Members of the Knesset guard carry the coffin of late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Knesset plaza, in Jerusalem, on Jan. 12, 2014. Israel is holding a state funeral for the former leader Monday ahead of his burial at his family ranch.(Photo: Bernat Armangue, AP)

Story Highlights

  • Former PM Sharon died Saturday at 85
  • He will be buried at his family's ranch in the south
  • State funeral takes place amid tight security
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JERUSALEM — The state funeral service for Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is taking place Monday amid tight security, and against the backdrop of a crisp and sunny winter morning.

"When a close knit country loses a leader like Sharon it feels like a death in the family," Vice President Biden, who is leading the U.S. delegation to Sharon's funeral, told mourners, adding: "This man had a commanding presence. He filled the room."

Traffic has been backed up across the city as major roads in and around the Knesset, Israel's parliament, have been closed for heightened security around the government premises. Police and undercover agents are monitoring crowds and the dozens of assembled media from around the world.

Sharon's coffin has been lying in state since Sunday at the Knesset's outdoor plaza where Israelis from all walks of life paid respects. Later Monday, he will be buried at his family's ranch in the Negev desert in the south of the country.

"The story of your life is bound to the story of this country. And your life was dedicated to the life of this country. Your footprints are imprinted on every hill and in every valley," Israel's President Shimon Peres eulogized at the service Monday attended by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other foreign leaders and dignitaries.

Photo shows black and white paper kippahs available at the state funeral of Ariel Sharon.(Photo: Kate Shuttleworth for USA TODAY)

The ex-prime minister and army commander died Saturday at the age of 85 after spending the last eight years in a coma following a stroke.

Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip just hours ahead of Ariel Sharon's funeral but they did not appear to have landed in Israel.

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