Israel’s ex-President Peres lies in state in parliament

Members of the Knesset guard stand next to the Israeli flag at half-staff in preparations to display the coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. The country mourned the death of Peres, a former president and prime minister whose life story mirrored that of the Jewish state, as the government began preparations for a funeral that is expected to bring together world leaders and dignitaries. Israeli officials are feverishly preparing security arrangements and logistics to host an array of world figures arriving in Israel for Peres' funeral Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Members of the Knesset guard stand next to the Israeli flag at half-staff in preparations to display the coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. The country mourned the death of Peres, a former president and prime minister whose life story mirrored that of the Jewish state, as the government began preparations for a funeral that is expected to bring together world leaders and dignitaries. Israeli officials are feverishly preparing security arrangements and logistics to host an array of world figures arriving in Israel for Peres' funeral Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

By Associated Press September 29, 2016 1 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – The body of Israel’s ninth President Shimon President is lying in state in the plaza of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Peres died Wednesday from complications following a stroke. He was 93.

Israelis will pay their respects throughout Thursday.

President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and French President Francois Hollande are among scores of world leaders who will attend the funeral in the country’s national cemetery in Jerusalem Friday. It is expected to be the largest such gathering in Israel since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.

Peres served twice as Israel’s prime minister. Over his seven-decade political career, he transformed from a hawk to a Nobel Prize-winning advocate of reconciliation with Palestinians. As Israel’s president, he cultivated admiration for his youthful optimism.