Following the passing of the former Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, President James Michel has expressed in a letter of condolence profound sadness to the people of Israel and to Mr Peres' family and all those that knew him.

In his message, President Michel noted that Israel had lost a true patriot and that world had lost an exemplary statesman and man of peace who dedicated his life to bringing about positive change.

"Mr Peres was a towering figure of our generation who leaves behind a legacy of peace and defending the two state solution, President Michel."

Mr Shimon Peres was awarded the Noble Peace Prize for having concluded the Oslo Peace Accords with Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, former Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.