Shimon Peres funeral: World leaders arrive in Israel to pay final tributes

Dignitaries from the world over have arrived in Jerusalem to pay final tributes to former Israeli prime minister and president Shimon Peres, who died on Wednesday (28 September). Prince Charles – representing the Queen – arrived in the Israeli capital to pay his respects to one of the country's founding fathers.

According to reports, Peres had left a detailed plan with regards to his funeral and in accordance his body lies in state outside the parliament. Around 8, 000 officers have been positioned for security operations as thousands are expected to be present at the memorial service to be held on Friday. It is also reported that Israeli police have made "preventive arrests" to ensure the funeral is held peacefully.

Peres' three children, the country's prime minister, president and US President Barack Obama are expected to speak during the memorial service, which will be attended by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

He will be visiting Israel after almost six years and requested authorities to allow him to be present for the funeral as he was one of the people who signed the Oslo peace accords in 1993, for which Peres won a Nobel Peace Prize. The Palestinian leader will head a delegation of four senior officials.

According to AFP, a senior Palestinian official said that Abbas wanted to "send a strong message to Israeli society that the Palestinians are for peace, and appreciate the efforts of peaceful men like Shimon Peres".

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former US president Bill Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former British prime minister Tony Blair and President of European Council, Donald Tusk will be present at the memorial service.