Tony Blair has heralded Ariel Sharon as "a giant of this land" at the state memorial service for the former Israeli prime minister, who died on Saturday. He was laid to rest at a ranch he owned near Sderot, close to Gaza.
Thousands of Israelis have been paying their final respects to ex-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ahead of his state funeral later today.
His coffin lay in state outside the parliament building in Jerusalem yesterday, and last night mourners came to light candles in his honour.
His funeral will be held at the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and then his body will be taken to his far, Sycamore ranch, near Sderot in southern Israel where he will be buried in a military ceremony next to his wife Lili, who died in 2000.
Israelis have paid their final respects to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who has been buried at his family ranch in southern Israel.
By fair means or foul, Ariel Sharon’s life was dedicated to defending Israel.