Feature: Israel mourns its last founding father

The complex legacy of Shimon Peres was all but set aside on Thursday as thousands of mourners made their ways to his coffin which lay in state at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem.

Peres, a former president and prime minister, who won a shared Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his efforts to make peace with the Palestinians, was more often a controversial figure than a popular one.

Years of electoral failure earned him the nickname "loser."

His first electoral victory was in 2007 when he was elected by the Knesset to serve as Israel's president, a largely ceremonial role.

It was then that his popularity pivoted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to Peres' personal and political history at a special cabinet meeting held hours after his death.

"The seven years of Shimon Peres' presidency were a rejuvenation. He won the public's bipartisan, cross-sector admiration. Love of the people was forthcoming and warmed his heart," said Netanyahu.

Itzik Weiss, a 64-year-old resident of the central Israeli city of Lod, came to Jerusalem to pay his respects to the former leader.

"He was a great man who did a lot for this country. He only did good things. He was just not appreciated. That's the problem," said Weiss.

Youngsters taking pictures with their mobile phones, elderly people walking slowly past the coffin, politicians from all sides of the Israeli political map and organized school groups, all were in line paying their respects for the Israeli statesman.

The somber mood was reflected by Israeli media which played quiet songs on the radio and dedicated hours of programming on the television news channels.

"In honoring Shimon Peres, we are really honoring ourselves, honoring the state of Israel and the accomplishments that this nation has made," said Avi Losice, a 55-year-old resident of Jerusalem who stood in the long line of mourners.

Israeli politics have become increasingly divisive in recent years.

In his last role as president, Peres dedicated much of his time to reaching many different parts of the Israeli society.

"He is an inseparable part of Israel. He is a piece of our history that we all need to respect even if we did not agree with his opinions, we just need to respect him," said Avshalom Abuksis.

Abuksis came with students from the southern Israeli city of Ofakim.

As Israel prepares for Peres' funeral on Friday, tens of world's leaders are expected to attend.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also announced he will come to the burial ceremony.

Israeli and Palestinian officials have not met to negotiate a peace deal since talks broke down in April 2014.

Chances of a brief meeting between Netanyahu and Abbas at the funeral bringing to a thawing of the relationship are slim, but a handshake may be considered minor progress at a time when many exchanges between the two sides are violent.

This would come days after Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations General Assembly and invited Abbas to speak at the Israeli parliament.

Internationally, Peres was a much less controversial figure. In fact, he was quite popular and enjoyed the status of an elder statesmen, a father figure.

In the United States, President Barack Obama ordered the flags in government buildings to be lowered to half mast in honor of the former Israeli president. Obama is also expected to attend the funeral.

While in Israel Peres was considered for years to be too dovish by many, his ideas were widely accepted abroad.

He advocated the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians long before it became almost mainstream for Israelis.

Although far from implementation, the idea that the Palestinians should be granted a state was considered taboo for many Israelis until several years ago.

Peres never relented on his peace efforts.

"Shimon devoted his life to our nation and to the pursuit of peace. He worked to his last days for peace and a better future for all," said Prime Minister Netanyahu in a special televised statement he recorded for Peres' death.

As thousands of Israelis waited patiently and passed through security checks to get a glimpse of Peres' coffin, the late leader's appeal became clear.

"He really appealed to everyone from every different country, every different background, and every different language. He respected everyone in the world," said Abby Silver, explaining why she felt the need to pay respects.

"I believed in his way and here we are -- we achieved nothing in the end. It's a shame people did not believe him 20 years ago," said Itzik Weiss as he left the grounds of the Knesset.

As violence continues to characterize the relations between Israel and its neighbors, the death of Peres highlights the gradual dissolution of his life-long dream. However, his death may also bring a small glimmer of hope for a possible reconciliation between the rivaling sides. Endit