Israeli statesman Shimon Peres dies

Shimon Peres has died at the age of 93. He had become one of the most well-known Israeli politicians after serving as Prime Minister (twice) and as the country’s President (2007-2014).

He suffered a stroke two weeks ago. His condition had improved before a sudden deterioration on Tuesday.

Peres was one of the last of a Israeli generation of politicians present at the birth of modern Israel in 1948.

He was a controversial figure, both in his support for a two-state solution and his support of building some Israeli settlements in Palestine.

Many international representatives are expected to attend his funeral in Jerusalem on Friday.

NOBEL PRIZE

Shimon Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role 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 said the Palestinians were Israel's “closest neighbours” and might become its “closest friends”.

“RESPECT TOWARDS CHRISTIANS”

Israel’s Bible Society spokesperson Victor Kalisher told Premier News Shimon Peres “had a lot of respect towards Christians, definitely. He was a man of peace and I think as Christians this is a great value for us”. And added, “the thing that Peres was known for was his optimism”.