The ninth president and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres was laid to rest on Friday morning on Mount Herzl in a state ceremony attended by leaders from 70 countries. Among those who came to pay their last respects were former US President Bill Clinton and US Secretary of State John Kerry, France's President François Hollande, Prince Charles and Palestinian Authority Chairman Machmoud Abbas.

US President Obama eulogized the late elder statesman on Friday morning, calling Peres one of the "giants of the 20th century." He praised Peres for his dedication to trying to solve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

 

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also delivered eulogies on Friday morning. Rivlin asked Peres for forgiveness on the eve of the Jewish New Year for red lines sometimes crossed in word and deed. Netanyahu described his first meeting with Peres and said that the late President did everything in his power every minute of his adult life to achieve peace with our neighbors. Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas shook hands after not having met face to face for six years.  

 

In his grave-side eulogy, prize-winning Israel novelist Amos Oz who was a close friend of Peres, told about his Friday phone calls with the late President where the two discussed the possibility for peace. Oz said that peace is inevitable because we have no place to go and neither do the Palestinians and there is no choice but to divide our home in two and live together.

And now for this week's headlines

 

Saturday, September 24:

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grants interviews to Israeli networks for the first time since the last Israeli elections.

 

24 dead and 200 injured in an air strike by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces on Aleppo neighborhoods held by anti-government rebels

Sunday, September 25

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets separately in New York on Sunday with both Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu apologizes for comparing the family of IDF soldier Elor Azaria to bereaved families of fallen or missing soldiers.

 

Monday, September 26

The Israeli gas partners sign a $10 billion deal with the Jordanian gas company.

 

Former Yisrael Beiteinu cabinet members are to be indicted for fraud

 

Tuesday, September 27

Former President Shimon Peres's condition worsens

 

A new Pro- Palestinian flotilla is headed for Gaza from Sicily, Italy

 

Wednesday, September 28

Israel’s 9th President Shimon Peres passes away at the Sheba medical center at the age of 93.

 

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is preparing for the arrival of many world leaders who will be coming to Israel to attend Shimon Peres’ funeral on Friday.

 

Thursday, September 29

Thousands of Israelis pay their last respects to Former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres

 

Former US President Bill Clinton lands in Israel ahead of Peres' funeral  

Found mistakes in this report? - Click Here