Former Israeli President Shimon Peres dies at 93

Jerusalem - The 93-year-old Peres was hospitalised two weeks ago after suffering a stroke that led to bleeding in his brain.

Former Israeli President and a Nobel peace prize laureate, Shimon Peres, has died at the age of 93, the official Israel News Agency has confirmed.
A person close to Peres had earlier said his condition has deteriorated, two weeks after suffering a major stroke.
He spoke on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss Peres' health with the media. 
The 93-year-old Peres was hospitalised two weeks ago after suffering a stroke that led to bleeding in his brain. He has been sedated and on a respirator during most of his hospitalisation. 
Peres is the elder statesman of Israeli politics, one of the country's most admired leaders and the last surviving link to its founding fathers. 

Shimon Peres: The Israeli hawk who turned Nobel peace laureate (Image: Hindustan Times/Twitter)
Over a seven-decade career, he has held virtually every senior political office, including three stints as prime minister.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed grief at the death of former Israeli president and elder statesman Shimon Peres, who died on Wednesday aged 93.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, express their deep personal grief on the passing of the beloved of the nation, former Israeli President Shimon Peres," a statement said.
It said Netanyahu would deliver a personal message and the Israeli cabinet would convene later for a special session of mourning.
Palestinian leader expresses sorrow over Peres 
The Palestinian president is expressing his sadness over the death of Shimon Peres.
In a statement, Mahmoud Abbas said he has sent a condolence letter to Peres' family expressing "sorrow and sympathy."
He called Peres a partner in reaching a "peace of the brave" with the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The three men shared the 1994 Nobel Peace prize for reaching the Oslo interim peace accord.
Abbas said Peres "exerted persistent efforts to reach a just peace from the Oslo agreement until the final moments of his life."

Here are key facts about Shimon Peres:
Peres was one of the architects of the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians, reached in 1993 and 1995.

Peres was foreign minister under his Labour party rival Yitzhak Rabin. Both men along with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on Oslo.

#Innovation4Peace pic.twitter.com/Iz7Z9hvKSC
- Shimon Peres (@PresidentPeres) July 21, 2016

 
"I think it's the only thing which is possible in order to bring an end to terror, violence and hatred," he said earlier this year in an interview with Time magazine.
He was seen as Israel's last remaining founding father and held nearly every major office in a career spanning five decades.
He was prime minister between 1984 and 1986, then again from 1995-1996 after Rabin's assassination. He served as president, a mainly ceremonial role, from 2007-2014.
He also served as foreign, defence and finance minister.
As director general of the defence ministry in the 1950s, he oversaw the development of Israel's nuclear programme with assistance from France.
Born in Poland in 1923, Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.

We will prove that innovation has no limits and no barriers. Innovation enables dialogue between nations & between people #Innovation4Peace
- Shimon Peres (@PresidentPeres) July 21, 2016

 
Elected to parliament in 1959, he served almost without interruption until becoming president in 2007.
 

World leaders mourn Peres, praise him as a man of peace President Barack Obama called Peres "the essence of Israel itself," noting he had fought for Israel's independence, worked its land and served Israel in virtually every government position, including three stints as prime minister.

Pres. Obama on death of Shimon Peres: "There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history." pic.twitter.com/zpKMKxCSZs
- ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2016

Former Pres. George W. Bush: "The Bush family will miss Shimon Peres and his grace, dignity, and optimism." https://t.co/jexB0rK8hu pic.twitter.com/mxIcs6XmTp
- ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2016

Condolences to the people of Israel on the passing of Shimon Peres, a true visionary whose efforts for peace will never be forgotten. ????
- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 28, 2016

Please read my statement on the death of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres: https://t.co/cWYdKH4hwo
- Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 28, 2016

In former President Shimon Peres, we lost a key world leader & a friend of India. Pained by his demise. Our condolences to people of Israel.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2016

"For me, dreaming is simply being pragmatic." ~ #ShimonPeres pic.twitter.com/ra91WWYPMs
- Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) September 28, 2016

Fmr. Israeli Pres. Shimon Peres was a remarkable man. I was honored to interview him several times. My thoughts are with his family & Israel
- Larry King (@kingsthings) September 28, 2016

So saddened to hear of the passing of Shimon Peres, one of #Israel's founding fathers, who never ever gave up on the cause of peace
- Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) September 28, 2016

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.
- Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 28, 2016

Ex-Israeli leader and Nobel laureate Shimon Peres has passed away at age 93. https://t.co/VUKe6ym49P
- Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) September 28, 2016

In statement, former Pres. George H.W. Bush says Shimon Peres "inspired the world over." https://t.co/0DUEV0Obza pic.twitter.com/sAURdqtdim
- ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2016

We mourn the loss of Shimon Peres-a universally respected leader who leaves a towering legacy in service of peace. https://t.co/xf7Z2why5E
- Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) September 28, 2016

The world has lost a true legend and statesman. #ShimonPeres pic.twitter.com/sp9WIbvk0X
- Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) September 28, 2016

• MENA