Israeli's are paying their respects as the body of their former leader Ariel Sharon lies in state in parliament in Jerusalem.

The 85 year old military commander turned politician died yesterday after eight years in a coma.

His funeral and burial service will take place in southern Israel tomorrow.

In the wake of Sharon’s death many world leaders have paid tribute, with US President Barack Obama calling him "a leader who dedicated his life to the state of Israel." The US President sent his "deepest condolences."

US secretary of State John Kerry released a statement that spoke of his relationship with the former Israeli Prime Minister: "During his years in politics, it is no secret that there were times the United States had differences with him. But whether you agreed or disagreed with his positions - and Arik was always crystal clear about where he stood - you admired the man who was determined to ensure the security and survival of the Jewish State," Kerry said.

"I will never forget meeting with this big bear of a man when he became prime minister as he sought to bend the course of history toward peace, even as it meant testing the patience of his own longtime supporters and the limits of his own, lifelong convictions in the process,” he added.

As expected with such a divisive figure, the words spoken of Sharon in the aftermath of hispassing have not all been supportive of the man’s deeds in life.

Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Manuel Hassassian, said Sharon was never a man of peace, despite the contention that the former general had turned towards peace and reconciliation shortly before his death. “Maybe he was a champion for the extremists inside Israel. He never believed in the resurrection, basically, of a peace process with the Palestinians. He had no intentions to give up any land in the West Bank,” Hassassian said.