Former Israeli’s PM Shimon Peres Dies At 93

Posted by African Examiner Europe, Featured, Latest Headlines, World News Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

– Obama, Pope Attend Funeral Friday
BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Former Israeli’s Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres, has died at the age of 93.

Mr. Peres suffered stroke two weeks ago, but his condition had improved before a sudden deterioration Tuesday.
The former PM died in a hospital, near Tel Aviv early Wednesday, with his family at his bedside.

Peres son-in-law and personal physician Rafi Walden, said the former Israel’s Leader died without suffering.

The ex-PM had been in the intensive care unit of the Sheba Medical Centre after suffering a major stroke Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

The two-term PM and one-term President was one of the last generation of Israeli politicians present at the new nation’s birth in 1948.

Mr. Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for the role he played in negotiating the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier, a prize he shared with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was later assassinated, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He was also once quoted as saying Palestinians were Israel’s “closest neighbours” and might become its “closest friends”.

Former PM’s son Chemi led tributes to the late Leader. He said Peres was “one of the founding fathers of the state of Israel” who “worked tirelessly” for it.
Chemi further said: “He served our people before we even had a country of our own. He worked tirelessly for Israel from the very first day of the state to the last day of his life.”

Tributes have also been pouring in for the Late Israelis President from different world leaders.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his “deep sorrow” over Mr. Peres’ death.

“As a man of vision, his gaze was aimed to the future,” Netanyahu said in a video broadcast.

The PM added: “As a man of security, he fortified Israel’s strength in many ways, some of which even today are still unknown.

“As a man of peace, he worked until his final days toward reconciling with our neighbours for a better future for our children.”

US President Barack Obama described Mr. Peres as his “dear friend”.

Obama in a statement said Peres “was guided by a vision of the human dignity and progress that he knew people of goodwill could advance together.”

Similarly, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a condolence letter to Mr. Peres’ family expressed his sorrow and sadness over the passage.
World figures including Obama, Prince Charles and Pope Francis, among others, are expected to attend his funeral in Jerusalem Friday, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, Israel’s national cemetery.