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| Israel starts celebrations for Shimon Peres's 90th | Israel starts celebrations for Shimon Peres's 90th |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun celebrations for his upcoming 90th birthday in the company of celebrities and world leaders. | Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun celebrations for his upcoming 90th birthday in the company of celebrities and world leaders. |
| British former Prime Minister Tony Blair and US ex-President Bill Clinton were among guests at Jerusalem's convention centre late on Tuesday. | British former Prime Minister Tony Blair and US ex-President Bill Clinton were among guests at Jerusalem's convention centre late on Tuesday. |
| Singer Barbra Streisand performed, with actors Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone also in attendance. | Singer Barbra Streisand performed, with actors Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone also in attendance. |
| A series of events are planned ahead of Mr Peres's birthday in August. | A series of events are planned ahead of Mr Peres's birthday in August. |
| Tuesday's gala marked the start of Israel's annual presidential conference, an event that is funded by individuals and foundations at a cost $3m ($1.9m). | Tuesday's gala marked the start of Israel's annual presidential conference, an event that is funded by individuals and foundations at a cost $3m ($1.9m). |
| Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in two days of discussions on the theme of "Facing Tomorrow". | Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in two days of discussions on the theme of "Facing Tomorrow". |
| The VIP guest list for the opening party showed the high international esteem in which Mr Peres is held. | The VIP guest list for the opening party showed the high international esteem in which Mr Peres is held. |
| 'Light and hope' | 'Light and hope' |
| Opening his speech, Mr Blair, now a special envoy to the Middle East, said: "We in Britain have our Queen, you have your Shimon" before going on to praise the president's leadership qualities. | |
| US President Barack Obama, who was in Northern Ireland for a G8 summit, sent a pre-recorded message expressing his birthday wishes to Mr Peres "on behalf of the American people". | US President Barack Obama, who was in Northern Ireland for a G8 summit, sent a pre-recorded message expressing his birthday wishes to Mr Peres "on behalf of the American people". |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also sent a tribute, as did German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also sent a tribute, as did German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. |
| When President Peres took to the podium, he called for an end to the conflict in the Middle East. | When President Peres took to the podium, he called for an end to the conflict in the Middle East. |
| "We want peace with our neighbours," he said. "The yesterday between us and the Palestinians is full of sorrow." | "We want peace with our neighbours," he said. "The yesterday between us and the Palestinians is full of sorrow." |
| "I believe that the Israel of tomorrow and the Palestine of tomorrow can give our children light and hope." | "I believe that the Israel of tomorrow and the Palestine of tomorrow can give our children light and hope." |
| The political career of Polish-born Mr Peres spans six decades. He has served twice as prime minister of Israel. | The political career of Polish-born Mr Peres spans six decades. He has served twice as prime minister of Israel. |
| He is credited with starting the country's nuclear programme and was closely involved with the early creation of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. | He is credited with starting the country's nuclear programme and was closely involved with the early creation of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. |
| He went on to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians. | He went on to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| In 1994, a year after the signing of the Oslo Accords, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Israel's then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. | In 1994, a year after the signing of the Oslo Accords, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Israel's then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. |
| Although he was not popular during much of his political career, Israelis have built up a deep affection for him that has been widely expressed during nearly six years as Israel's president. | Although he was not popular during much of his political career, Israelis have built up a deep affection for him that has been widely expressed during nearly six years as Israel's president. |