The death of former Israeli president Shimon Peres prompted an outpouring of condolences for the Nobel Prize-winning world leader, who was remembered as an outspoken voice for peace.
Peres died in hospital on Tuesday two weeks after he suffered a stroke. He was 93.
One of the country鈥檚 oldest and most celebrated leaders, Peres held nearly every senior political office in Israel, including prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister and finance minister. To cap off his career, he served as president from 2007 to 2014.
Peres was often described as the 鈥渆lder statesman鈥� of Israeli politics and was seen as one of the few living links to the country鈥檚 modern founding.
Peres was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, along with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, for his work on the Oslo Accords, a plan that set out to resolve areas of conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis and helped establish the Palestinian Authority as a provisional government.
Peres was born in a small village on the border of what is now Poland and Belarus in 1923. Much of his family was later killed in the Holocaust.
World leaders and dignitaries shared condolences for Peres in the moments after his death was announced Tuesday evening.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be attending the funeral, his press secretary Andrée-Lyne Hallé confirmed Wednesday.
Shimon Peres was, above all, a man of peace. My deepest condolences to his loved ones and to the people of Israel on his passing.
鈥� Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)
Laureen & I are saddened to learn of the passing of dear friend Shimon Peres. Our sincere condolences to his family & the people of Israel.
鈥� Stephen Harper (@stephenharper)
I will miss Shimon Peres, my brilliant and eloquent friend. His life was a blessing to all who strive for peace.
鈥� Bill Clinton (@billclinton)
With profound sadness, my statement on the passing of Shimon Peres:
鈥� Rona Ambrose (@RonaAmbrose)
Shimon Peres was a founding father of our country and had the foresight to establish Israel's defense industries 鈻讹笍
鈥� Ambassador Danon (@dannydanon)
Shimon Peres was a political giant, a statesman who will rank as one of the foremost of this era or any era, and someone I loved deeply.
鈥� Tony Blair Office (@tonyblairoffice)
With files from the Associated Press
