RAMALLAH, West Bank — A senior Palestinian official says President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to attend Shimon Peres’ funeral on Friday.

The official says Abbas will lead a delegation of top Palestinian officials, including his chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

The official says Abbas wanted to “send a strong message to Israeli society that the Palestinians are for peace, and appreciate the efforts of peaceful men like Shimon Peres.”

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment to the media.