Tributes and condolences are pouring in following the death of Israeli statesman Shimon Peres.
Current and former world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were invited to attend the funeral of the former Israeli Prime Minister, President and Nobel laureate, who died early Wednesday morning. He was 93.
Also on the guest list are Pope Francis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, senior US politicians Joe Biden and John Kerry, the current UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Prince Charles, the leaders of Canada, Germany, France and Australia, and the Queen of Holland. It’s not clear if all of those dignitaries will be attending. The Pope is unable to attend due to a scheduled trip to Georgia, the Vatican said later.
Those invited that have described the ninth Prime Minister of Israel as a friend, and an inspiration.
‘You are only as great as the cause you serve’
The statesman’s son, Chemi Peres, addressed the media from the Sheba Medical Center, saying that his father “did not have any other purpose in life other than serving those he loved,” referencing the people of Israel.
He recalled that his father had told him: “You are only as a great as the cause you serve.”
He said that his father had “bequeathed a future to us. We will continue building the state of Israel and will also seek peace.
“The loss we feel today belongs to all of Israel, we all share this pain.”
His son-in-law and physician, Rafi Walden, said that his final contribution was to donate his corneas for transplant.
He added that Peres had remained healthy and vibrant up until the stroke, adding that that the family was always in awe of his lasting influence, recalling how world leaders would stand before him “like students standing before the rabbi.” Many of those leaders will pay their final respects at his funeral.
‘A genius with a big heart’
One will be the outgoing US President, who called Peres a friend.
“There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history, not just through their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and force us to expect more of ourselves,” Obama said in a statement from the White House. “My friend Shimon was one of those people.”
Peres’ contemporary, former US President Bill Clinton, who together with Peres had championed the1993 Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Peace Accords, said in a joint statement with Hillary Clinton that “Israel has lost a leader who championed its security, prosperity, and limitless possibilities from its birth to his last day on earth.”
“He was a genius with a big heart who used his gifts to imagine a future of reconciliation not conflict, economic and social empowerment not anger and frustration,” Clinton added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu released a statement expressing his sadness for the country’s ninth leader, calling him “a man cherished by the nation.”
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair tweeted that Peres was “a political giant, a statesman who will rank as one of the foremost of this era or any era.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement: “I met Mr. Peres on many occasions, and always benefited from his views. Even in the most difficult hours, he remained an optimist about the prospects for reconciliation and peace.”
Other voices added to the tributes. UK and Commonwealth Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called him “a born leader, a uniquely talented diplomat (and) a relentless campaigner for peace and David Quarrey, British Ambassador to Israel, said he was “a towering figure of our time.”
Half a century of Israeli politics
Peres held virtually every position in Israel’s Cabinet, including minister of defense and Prime Minister.
As foreign minister under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he concluded the Oslo Accords. Yitzak Rabin, the then-Prime Minister, worked together with Peres and Bill Clinton, along with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, to bring about the deal, for which Peres won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Arafat and Rabin.
He called for peace talks in 2011 with the Palestinians and warned the United Nations against recognizing the Palestinian territories as an independent state outside a peace plan.
Peres remained in the public eye after retirement. In a 2015 interview with CNN, he expressed support for a nuclear deal with Iran and said it would be feasible for inspectors to enforce the terms of the agreement.
Health issues
Peres was rushed to the hospital in mid-January after suffering a minor heart attack. He underwent emergency surgery and received a stent. He returned to the hospital 10 days later after suffering from an irregular heartbeat.
He suffered a massive stroke two weeks ago but was reported to be making progress. Doctors said he took a turn for the worse Tuesday.
Peres’ family was believed to be at his bedside when he died at Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv.
