BICOM

Global dignitaries are expected to attend tomorrow’s funeral of Israel’s former President Shimon Peres.

Prince Charles will reportedly represent the Queen, who said she was “deeply saddened” by Shimon Peres’s passing. He is likely to be joined by a senior government figure, with media reports suggesting that Prime Minister Theresa May or Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson may attend the funeral.

Around 80 world leaders are expected to attend the funeral. They include US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State John Kerry, France’s Prime Minister Francois Hollande and Germany’s President Joachim Gauck.

Israel Radio news reports this morning that Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will attend the funeral, but there has been no confirmation yet of representation from Jordan. Israel has peace treaties with both neighbouring countries.

Peres’s coffin will lie in state in the plaza of the Knesset in Jerusalem today, to allow the Israeli public to pay their respects. Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein will be the first to lay wreathes on Peres’s casket. Israeli flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the day.

Tomorrow morning, Peres’ coffin will be transported to Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl national cemetery, where he will be laid to rest in a section reserved for the leaders of the nation.

Israel’s Police Commissioner, Roni Alsheich described preparations for Peres’ funeral as a “major — and in some ways, unprecedented — operation”. Extra staff are operating at Ben Gurion International Airport to accommodate the large number of VIP arrivals at an already busy time ahead of the Jewish New Year.

Meanwhile, top hotels in Jerusalem have been cleared to host the dignitaries. There will also be significant disruption to traffic in Jerusalem. Israel’s busiest motorway, Route One, which connects Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, will be closed at various points today and tomorrow as high-profile funeral attendees arrive in the country.