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| Shimon Peres, former Israeli president, dies aged 93 | Shimon Peres, former Israeli president, dies aged 93 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former Israeli PM and president, Shimon Peres, has died aged 93. | The former Israeli PM and president, Shimon Peres, has died aged 93. |
| He suffered a stroke two weeks ago and his condition improved before a sudden deterioration on Tuesday. | He suffered a stroke two weeks ago and his condition improved before a sudden deterioration on Tuesday. |
| His son Chemi led tributes to "one of the founding fathers of the state of Israel" who "worked tirelessly" for it. | |
| Mr Peres, who was one of the last of a generation of Israeli politicians present at the new nation's birth in 1948, served twice as the country's prime minister and once as president. | Mr Peres, who was one of the last of a generation of Israeli politicians present at the new nation's birth in 1948, served twice as the country's prime minister and once as president. |
| He won the Nobel Peace prize in 1994 for his role negotiating peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier. | He won the Nobel Peace prize in 1994 for his role negotiating peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier. |
| He once said the Palestinians were Israel's "closest neighbours" and might become its "closest friends". | He once said the Palestinians were Israel's "closest neighbours" and might become its "closest friends". |
| Obituary: Shimon Peres, Israeli founding father | Obituary: Shimon Peres, Israeli founding father |
| Long legacy of Israel's elder statesman | Long legacy of Israel's elder statesman |
| Mr Peres died in a hospital near Tel Aviv early on Wednesday, with his family at his bedside. | Mr Peres died in a hospital near Tel Aviv early on Wednesday, with his family at his bedside. |
| He had been in the intensive care unit of the Sheba Medical Centre after suffering a major stroke on 13 September. | He had been in the intensive care unit of the Sheba Medical Centre after suffering a major stroke on 13 September. |
| He "left us without suffering", said Rafi Walden, his son-in-law. | |
| Mr Peres's son, Chemi, said of his father: "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. | |
| "My father used to say - and I'm quoting - you are only as great as the cause you serve." | |
| Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "deep personal grief on the passing of the beloved of the nation". | Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "deep personal grief on the passing of the beloved of the nation". |
| Meanwhile US President Barack Obama called Mr Peres his "dear friend" in a statement, and said: "He was guided by a vision of the human dignity and progress that he knew people of goodwill could advance together." | Meanwhile US President Barack Obama called Mr Peres his "dear friend" in a statement, and said: "He was guided by a vision of the human dignity and progress that he knew people of goodwill could advance together." |
| Mr Peres shared his Nobel Peace Prize with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was later assassinated, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. | Mr Peres shared his Nobel Peace Prize with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was later assassinated, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. |
| Who was Shimon Peres? | Who was Shimon Peres? |
| At the start of his long political career, he was put in charge of personnel and arms purchases for the Haganah, the predecessor of the Israel Defense Forces. | At the start of his long political career, he was put in charge of personnel and arms purchases for the Haganah, the predecessor of the Israel Defense Forces. |
| He secured a deal with France to supply the new Israeli nation with Mirage jet fighters. He also set up Israel's secret nuclear facility. | He secured a deal with France to supply the new Israeli nation with Mirage jet fighters. He also set up Israel's secret nuclear facility. |
| He was the defence minister in 1976, when Palestinian hijackers diverted a plane from Israel to Entebbe in Uganda. He oversaw the successful rescue of more than 100 hostages. | He was the defence minister in 1976, when Palestinian hijackers diverted a plane from Israel to Entebbe in Uganda. He oversaw the successful rescue of more than 100 hostages. |
| Once an advocate of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Mr Peres later became a leading political dove. He often spoke of the need for compromise over territorial demands in Palestinian areas. | Once an advocate of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Mr Peres later became a leading political dove. He often spoke of the need for compromise over territorial demands in Palestinian areas. |
| He maintained an active public schedule into old age, mostly through his non-governmental Peres Centre for Peace, which promotes closer ties between Israel and the Palestinians. | He maintained an active public schedule into old age, mostly through his non-governmental Peres Centre for Peace, which promotes closer ties between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| In 2013 he said: "There is no alternative to peace. There is no sense to go to war." | In 2013 he said: "There is no alternative to peace. There is no sense to go to war." |
| He retired from his role as president in 2014. | He retired from his role as president in 2014. |