Over 30 former and present heads of state and government joined ambassadors, foreign mayors, governors and ministers and most of Israel's political echelon on Friday to bid farewell Israel's ninth president Shimon Peres in what may be the largest gathering of international dignitaries in Israel in the state's history.
Israel's President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein all spoke at the funeral.
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Supreme Court President Miriam Naor sitting next to French President Hollande. Israel's two chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, center, sitting next to Jerusalem Mayor Barkat (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
In total, some 90 delegations from 70 countries were in attendance.
US President Barack Obama led the American delegation, which also included Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton and Congressmen from both sides of the aisle.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu talks to US President Obama, with President Rivlin and Mrs. Netanyahu flanking them (Photo: AFP)
(צילום: AFP)
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US President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
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US President Obama standing next to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
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US President Obama embraces Chemi Peres as Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu look on (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
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US President Obama hands Chemi Peres a handkerchief (Photo: Koby Gideon, GPO)
(צילום: קובי גדעון, לע"מ)
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Former US President Clinton sits next to Peres's daughter, Dr. Tsvia Walden, and Knesset Speaker Edelstein (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
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Former US President Bill Clinton comforting Chemi Peres (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
The UK sent an especially large delegation to the funeral, which included: Prince Charles, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, President of the Board of Jewish Deputies Ephraim Arkush and former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, David Cameron, and Gordon Brown.
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Former British Prime Ministers Blair and Cameron sitting next to Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
The Palestinians sent a four-member delegation, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, PLO Executive Committee Secretary-General and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, Chief of General Intelligence Maj. Gen. Majid Faraj, and Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh.
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Palestinian President Abbas shakes Prime Minister Netanyahu's hand (Photo: GPO)
(צילום: לע"מ)
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Palestinian President Abbas leading the PA delegation to the funeral (Photo: Idan Arbelly)
(צילום: עידן ארבלי)
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Palestinian President Abbas, center, flanked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, right, and President of the European Council Donald Tusk (Photo: AP)
(צילום: AP)
Many other heads of states, both past and present, attended.
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Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, center (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
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French President Hollande, with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy behind him (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
The funeral was also attended by author Amos Oz, a close friend of Peres, who also eulogized him.
Peres's three children, Dr. Tsvia Walden, Chemi Peres and Yoni Peres, eulogized him as well.
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Peres's daughter, Dr. Tsvia Walden with former US President Bill Clinton (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
(צילום: גיל יוחנן)
