World leaders bid farewell to ex-Israeli president Peres

Shimon Peres was laid to rest on Sept. 30 in a ceremony attended by dozens of world leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, in a final tribute to former Israeli President and Nobel Peace Laureate Shimon Peres in Jerusalem. 

Abbas was among the mourners at the city's Mount Herzl national cemetery and was seated in the front row, reportedly at the request of Peres's family.

Abbas knew Peres well and negotiated with him. In an extremely rare move, he shook hands and spoke briefly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon arrival.

Security forces were on high alert, with roads closed and thousands of officers deployed.

Some 70 countries were represented, with the range of leaders illustrating the respect Peres gained over the years in his transformation from hawk to committed peace advocate.

"In many ways he reminded me of some other giants of the 20th century that I had the honor to meet: men like Nelson Mandela, women like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," said U.S. President Barack Obama, who wore a black Jewish skullcap.

Leaders of Arab countries were overwhelmingly absent from the funeral.

Peres's death on Sept. 28 at the age of 93 after suffering a major stroke drew tributes from around the world for Israel's last remaining founding father.

An estimated 50,000 people filed past his coffin as it lay in state outside parliament in Jerusalem throughout the day on Sept. 29.

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton was among those who paid their last respects there, appearing moved as he stood in silence before the coffin.

Clinton had helped usher in the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians in the 1990s, which resulted in the Nobel prize for Peres....