Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged the late former Israeli President Shimon Peres as a "great statesman". "We mourn this great loss together with the people of Israel and the family of Shimon Peres." She recalled with gratitude the many meetings and talks she had with the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

In a letter of condolence to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Chancellor expressed her "heartfelt sympathy, also on behalf of the German people, for the family and friends of Shimon Peres as well as for the people of Israel". In all the positions he held, the late Shimon Peres did "everything in his power for the security, the freedom and development of the nation of Israel", wrote Merkel.

"His vision for sustainable peace in the Near East was an important contribution to the Oslo Peace Accord, for which Shimon Peres, Yitzak Rabin and Jassir Arafat were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994", the Chancellor continued. To this day, he was denied the chance to experience the realisation of his dream. "Our continuing work towards this dream – that is his legacy and our obligation."

Steinmeier: "His achievements are almost immeasurable"

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also acknowledged the achievements of the late former Israeli President. Israel has "lost one of its founding fathers and Germany has lost a highly esteemed friend and partner", said Steinmeier.

"His achievements for Israel, the nation of survivors, which he helped to establish and shape through his words and deeds over long decades, are almost immeasurable." According to the Federal Foreign Minister, Peres "worked with great determination for the unique friendship between Israel and Germany, connecting past and present".

The Nobel Peace Prize winner died on Wednesday morning at the age of 93 years. Peres had suffered a serious stroke two weeks previously and since 13 September had been in intensive care at a Tel Aviv hospital.

Shimon Peres was twice Israel's head of government and several times a minister. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 as foreign minister together with the then President Izchak Rabin and PLO leader Jassir Arafat. He was President from 2007 to 2014.