Israel's elder statesman, Shimon Peres, dies at 93

Former Israeli president and elder statesman Shimon Peres, a joint winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, died in hospital on September 28 at 93, two weeks after suffering a massive stroke.

Israel's President Shimon Peres in Ottawa, May 2012. (Photo: Reuters)
Israel's President Shimon Peres in Ottawa, May 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

The announcement of the death was made at the Tel Hashomer hospital by his son Chemi and son-in-law Rafi Walden.

A campaigner for Middle East peace who played a seminal role in Israeli politics for nearly 70 years, Peres was mourned by world leaders and praised for his tireless engagement.

The funeral will take place on Friday at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl cemetery, in a section dedicated to "Great Leaders of the Nation".

US President Barack Obama, Britain's Prince Charles and US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, are among those expected to attend, Israeli radio reported, although Israel's Foreign Ministry could not immediately confirm the attendance list.

French President Francois Hollande confirmed that he would attend, alongside his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

Reuters