Israel's President Shimon Peres turns 90 Israel's President Shimon Peres has been celebrating his 90th birthday with a series of events marking his contribution to the country. The political career of Polish-born Mr Peres spans six decades. He has served twice as prime minister of Israel. He is credited with starting the country's nuclear programme and was closely involved with the early creation of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. He went on to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In 1994, a year after the signing of the Oslo Accords, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Israel's then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Although he was not popular during much of his political career, Israelis have built up a deep affection for him that has been widely expressed during nearly six years as Israel's president. Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet spoke to him in the run-up to his birthday.