Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led his cabinet in a minute’s silence following the death of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres.<br /><br /> Peres died early on Wednesday, two weeks after suffering a major stroke.<br /><br /> In a video address to the nation Netanyahu described Peres as a man of vision and peace. <br /><br /> “Shimon Peres devoted his life to our people’s independence. As a man of vision he looked to the future, as a man of security he fortified Israel’s strength in many ways, some of which are still secret today. As a man of peace he acted until his last days to reach appeasement with our neighbours, and a better future for our children,” the Israeli premier said. <br /><br /> Netanyahu also said the country’s former President will always be remembered as “the beloved of the nation”.<br /><br /> According to media reports, Mr Peres body will lie in state at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Thursday, for the public to pay their final respects, before a state funeral at the country’s national cemetery in Jerusalem on Friday.<br />
