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Shimon Peres funeral gets under way in Israel Shimon Peres funeral: Leaders hail legacy of former Israeli leader
(35 minutes later)
The funeral for the late Israeli leader Shimon Peres is under way in Jerusalem before a large number of foreign dignitaries, including Barack Obama and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. World leaders have hailed the vision of the late Israeli leader, Shimon Peres, as he is laid to rest three days after he died at the age of 93.
Mr Peres, one of the country's founding fathers, died on Wednesday aged 93. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described him as "a great man of the world", as he led the eulogies.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described him as "a great man of the world", in his funeral eulogy. A large number of foreign dignitaries, including Barack Obama and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, are attending the state funeral in Jerusalem.
A security crackdown ahead of the ceremony has led to the "preventative arrests" of several people. A security crackdown ahead of the ceremony led to several arrests.
In an emotional address, Mr Netanyahu said that while Israel and the world grieves for Mr Peres there was hope in his legacy.
"Shimon lived a life of purpose," he told the dozens of foreign dignitaries gathered at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl cemetery.
"He soared to incredible heights. He swept so many with his vision and his hope. He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world."
'Biggest dreamer'
Former US President Bill Clinton, who helped negotiate the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians in the 1990s that led to a Nobel Peace Prize for Shimon Peres, said he was Israel's "biggest dreamer".
"He imagined all the things the rest of us could do. He started life as Israel's brightest student, became its best teacher and ended up its biggest dreamer.''
US President Barack Obama is also among the speakers at the ceremony, along with Mr Peres' three children.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas led a delegation of senior Palestinian officials in his first visit to Israel since 2010.Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas led a delegation of senior Palestinian officials in his first visit to Israel since 2010.
As a negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), he was one of the people who signed the Oslo peace accords in 1993, for which Mr Peres won a Nobel Peace Prize the year after, along with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin.As a negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), he was one of the people who signed the Oslo peace accords in 1993, for which Mr Peres won a Nobel Peace Prize the year after, along with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin.
A senior Palestinian official told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Abbas wanted to "send a strong message to Israeli society that the Palestinians are for peace, and appreciate the efforts of peaceful men like Shimon Peres".A senior Palestinian official told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Abbas wanted to "send a strong message to Israeli society that the Palestinians are for peace, and appreciate the efforts of peaceful men like Shimon Peres".
But a spokesman for Hamas, the more hardline Palestinian group which runs Gaza, called on Mr Abbas to "retract his decision to participate in the funeral of the criminal Shimon Peres".But a spokesman for Hamas, the more hardline Palestinian group which runs Gaza, called on Mr Abbas to "retract his decision to participate in the funeral of the criminal Shimon Peres".
Mr Peres' reputation in the region is complicated by the 1996 shelling of Qana in southern Lebanon that killed more than 100 people who were sheltering in a UN compound.Mr Peres' reputation in the region is complicated by the 1996 shelling of Qana in southern Lebanon that killed more than 100 people who were sheltering in a UN compound.
It happened when, as prime minister, he ordered an offensive against a wave of rocket fire by the militant Hezbollah movement.It happened when, as prime minister, he ordered an offensive against a wave of rocket fire by the militant Hezbollah movement.
He later said it was a "bitter surprise" to find that several hundred people were in the camp at the time.He later said it was a "bitter surprise" to find that several hundred people were in the camp at the time.
Security operationSecurity operation
Mr Peres' coffin was earlier escorted by a military honour guard from the parliament building in Jerusalem to Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, where he will be laid to rest alongside many of the country's former leaders. Earlier on Friday, Mr Peres' coffin was escorted by a military honour guard from the parliament building in Jerusalem to Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, where he will be laid to rest alongside many of the country's former leaders.
Jordan and Egypt - the only two Arab countries to have signed peace deals with Israel - have both sent official representatives to the ceremony.Jordan and Egypt - the only two Arab countries to have signed peace deals with Israel - have both sent official representatives to the ceremony.
Mixed reaction to Peres' legacy in world mediaMixed reaction to Peres' legacy in world media
Long legacy of Israel's elder statesmanLong legacy of Israel's elder statesman
Obituary: Shimon Peres, Israeli founding fatherObituary: Shimon Peres, Israeli founding father
World leaders pay tributeWorld leaders pay tribute
US President Barack Obama is also due to speak at the ceremony, along with Mr Peres' three children. The body of Mr Peres had been lying in state outside parliament in Jerusalem since Thursday.
The body of Mr Peres has been lying in state outside parliament in Jerusalem. Israeli police said 8,000 officers have been deployed for the security operation as thousands of people were expected to attend the funeral.
Israeli police say 8,000 officers have been deployed for the security operation as thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral.
Israeli police chief Roni Alsheikh said it was "an operation on an unprecedented scale".Israeli police chief Roni Alsheikh said it was "an operation on an unprecedented scale".
From the UK, Prince Charles, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are attending.From the UK, Prince Charles, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are attending.
The funeral is expected to be the largest such event in Israel since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995. The funeral was expected to be the largest such event in Israel since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres suffered a stroke two weeks ago and died on Wednesday, aged 93, in a hospital near Tel Aviv.Mr Peres suffered a stroke two weeks ago and died on Wednesday, aged 93, in a hospital near Tel Aviv.
Other world dignitaries who are attending include:Other world dignitaries who are attending include:
Who was Shimon Peres?Who was Shimon Peres?