Washington, Sep 28 : US President Barack Obama has termed former Israeli President Shimon Peres, who died on Wednesday morning, as one of the few people who changed the course of human history.

Peres, 93, died at a hospital in Tel Aviv following a major stroke two weeks ago, Xinhua news agency reported.

"There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history, not just through their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and force us to expect more of ourselves. My friend Shimon was one of those people," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.

Washington, June 12 : U. S. Defense Secretary Lion Panetta has met with visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres to discuss security issues of mutual concern and strong defense ties between the two close allies.

"They consulted on the many areas of cooperation and the common challenges faced by the United States and Israel in the Middle East, to include the ongoing violence in Syria, Iran''s nuclear ambitions, the Middle East Peace Process, and U. S. commitment to preserving Israel''s Qualitative Military Edge," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.