US President makes touching tribute to Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres

'His hand was always extended to a historic compromise with our neighbors...'

Shimon Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, former Israeli prime minister and president, passed away Tuesday at 93-years-old.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - He suffered a stroke, which left him unconscious and reliant on a breathing tube.

His condition worsened over the weekend until Tuesday, when he passed away.

Peres' funeral will be held in Jerusalem on Friday at Israel's national cemetery.

Israel's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Emmanual Nahshon, reported many world leaders will be in attendance including US President Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Prince Charles and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Peres "never stopped trying to reach to peace and believing in peace.

"His hand was always extended to a historic compromise with out neighbors, and even if this compromise tarried, he taught us never to give in to despair, but to cling to hope."

Peres' son Chemi announced Tuesday: "Today with deep sorrow we bid farewell to our beloved father, the 9th president of Israel. Our father's legacy has always been to look to tomorrow.

"We were privileged to be part of his private family, but today we sense that the entire nation of Israel and the global community share this great loss. We share this pain together."

After the announcement, Obama released a touching statement: "A light has gone out, but the hope he gave us will burn forever.

"Shimon Peres was a soldier for Israel, for the Jewish people, for justice, for peace, and for the belief that we can be true to our best selves - to the very end of our time on Earth, and in the legacy that we leave to others. For the gift of his friendship and the example of his leadership, todah rabah, Shimon."

Many other A-list leaders and stars shared kind words, such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former President George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Barbara Streisand and Nancy Pelosi.

Peres was obviously much beloved and his loss was sorely felt.

"I will miss Himon Peres, my brilliant and eloquent friend," Bill Clinton Tweeted. "His life was a blessing to all who strive for peace."

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