The former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, who was part of a generation of giants who established the state of Israel. Has died at the weekend aged 96 years old.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to Yitzhak Shamir at his weekly cabinet meeting. He led a minute's silence for the former Prime Minister. Speaking in Hebrew he praised his achievements and his part in the peace process.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Yitzhak Shamir was part of a generation of giants who established the state of Israel. He had dedicated his life and all of his might to ensure the existence of the state, to ensure the freedom of the people of Israel in its land, to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel, and also to ensure the ingathering of the exiles."

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"He was of course very firm in his perception and attitude on the political issue. And yet, he went to Madrid. He knew how to combine -- with all of his strength and even ideological toughness about the land of Israel and all that's related to the land of Israel -- he also knew how to go to peace process."

Here is Yitzhak Shamir going into the legendary MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE now known as the 'MADRID CONFERENCE'. Th American president Ronald Reagan also attended this conference. Shamir became the first Israeli leader to sit opposite Palestinian, Syrian, Jordanian and Lebanese . Here is speaking to delegates.

YITZHAK SHAMIR, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, SAYING:

"In Israel there is an almost total consensus for the need for peace. They only difference in the best ways to achieve it. In most Arab countries the opposite seems to be true. The only differences are over the ways to push Israel into a defenceless position and ultimately to destruction."

Shamirwill be remembered as the prime minister that took Israel to the Madrid conference, that was the base to the agreements that were signed after it with Jordan and with the Palestinians, and it opened the door to almost 50 new countries to arrive and open embassies in Israel.

I am Ann Salter, thanks for watching. For the latest news and updates follow me on our website at ibtimes.co.uk.

Written and presented by Ann Salter