Shimon Peres, a former Israeli president and prime minister, whose life story mirrored that of the Jewish state and who was celebrated around the world as a Nobel prize-winning visionary who pushed his country toward peace, has died, the Israeli news website YNet reported early Wednesday. One of the country's most admired leaders, Peres first became a member of Israel's parliament in 1959. He held virtually every senior political office in Israel over his seven-decade career, including three terms as prime minister, as well as stints as foreign minister and finance minister. Shimon Peres, former president of Israel, dead at 933:22The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs, a Canadian advocacy group, hailed Peres as a leader who "embodied the timeless aspiration of the Israeli people for a future in which their children will live in peace and security." "President Shimon Peres was a visionary, statesman, philanthropist and a giant of Israeli life whose private and professional accomplishments over seven decades read like the history of the modern state of Israel," said David J. Cape, CIJA Chair.

Source: CBC News September 28, 2016 02:03 UTC