Obama to lead delegation to attend funeral for Shimon Peres

WASHINGTON – The White House said Wednesday that President Barack Obama will lead a delegation to Jerusalem to attend Friday's funeral for former Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Peres died Wednesday due to complications from a stroke. The former Israeli prime minister was 93.

Obama said in a statement that Peres had changed the course of human history by expanding the "moral imagination" and forcing people to expect more from themselves.

Obama was scheduled to travel to Jerusalem on Thursday. He was to go to the White House on Friday following the ceremony.

The White House didn't identify other members of the U.S. delegation that will accompany Obama.