Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas hailed Peres as a “brave” partner for peace and sent his famil condolences. “My friend Shimon was one of those people.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his “profound sadness”. Peres held nearly every major office in the country, serving twice as prime minister and also as president, a mostly ceremonial role, from 2007 to 2014. Peres had sought to maintain an active schedule despite his age, particularly through events related to his Peres Center for Peace. He joined the Zionist struggle and met David Ben-Gurion, who would become his mentor and Israel’s first prime minister.

Source: Manila Times September 28, 2016 11:48 UTC