Israel mourns as preparations begin for Peres’ funeral

Israel on Wednesday mourned the death of Shimon Peres, a former president and prime minister. President Barack Obama mourns too, he had several meetings with Peres, extremely wise and outstanding diplomat. Obama will headline the list of leaders expected at Peres’ funeral in Jerusalem on Friday.

Israel mourns, the ex-president Peres dies at age 93 at the hospital, the son Chemi announced this bitter news on Wednesday. Peres, the politician and Nobel Prize-winning visionary pushed his country toward peace during a remarkable seven-decade career. Barack Obama said:

“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. My friend Shimon was one of those people.”

Obama will headline the list of leaders expected at Peres’ funeral in Jerusalem on Friday. Israel prepares for the funeral, which will be the biggest gathering of international leaders to converge on Israel since the funeral of Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish ultranationalist in 1995.