Obama to Speak at Peres Funeral on Friday

President Barack Obama has been scheduled as the concluding speaker at the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, the White House said on Thursday, as the president left for Israel.

Obama will lead a delegation of 32 other American officials, including former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State John Kerry, Democratic Senator Bob Casey and Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader in the House of Representatives.

Three Republican lawmakers were set to travel with 19 of their Democratic colleagues, the White House said. They include Stephen Hadley, who was national security adviser to former Republican President George W. Bush.

The speakers at Friday’s ceremony are as follows: Opening remarks by Gilad Adin, a journalist and friend of Peres; eulogies by President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, former President Bill Clinton, the singing of “Avinu Malkeinu,” writer and friend Amos Oz, daughter Prof. Tzvia Walden, sons Yoni Peres and Nehemia “Chemi” Peres, President Obama.

Then Kaddish will be said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Netanyahu met Bill Clinton at his Yerushalayim residence. Netanyahu’s office described it as “a warm and cordial meeting.” Also present were Acting National Security Advisor and Head of the National Security Council Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Jacob Nagel and attorney Yitzhak Molcho.