Yitzhak Shamir, former Israeli PM, dies

CNN ^ | 6/30/12

[Uncle Slayton]

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir died Saturday, the country's prime minister's office said. He was 96.

[Slings and Arrows]

Sad ping.

[Tax-chick]

Dear me, such an old fellow. Rest in peace, Mr. Shamir.

[STARWISE]

Yitzhak Shamir, who emerged from the militant wing of a Jewish militia and served as Israel’s prime minister longer than anyone but David Ben-Gurion, promoting a muscular Zionism and expansive settlement in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, died Saturday. He was 96 and had been living in a nursing home in Tel Aviv.

Mr. Shamir had had Alzheimer’s disease for at least the last six years, an associate said. His death was announced by the prime minister’s office.

A native of Poland, whose family was wiped out in the Holocaust, Mr. Shamir was part of a group of right-wing Israeli politicians led by Menachem Begin who rose to power in the 1970s as the more left-wing Labor Party declined, viewed as corrupt and disdainful of the public.

~~~~~

Rest in peace, brave warrior for freedom. God bless & protect Israel and her people.

[rawhide]

Who is the former PM that is still alive, who IIRC, is or was in a coma? Sharon?

[NormsRevenge]

96? wow ... another young lion of Israel gone.

RIP Yitzhak Shamir

[Tax-chick]

Yes, Ariel Sharon. He’s been nonresponsive since 2006.

[Piranha]

Boruch dayan emet.

[Lancey Howard]

Mr. Shamir was part of a group of right-wing Israeli politicians led by Menachem Begin who rose to power in the 1970s as the more left-wing Labor Party declined, viewed as corrupt and disdainful of the public.

I'm guessing the "left-wing Labor Party" moved to the US.

[rmlew]

Two months after Benzion Netanyahu passed, Shamir has died. Israels founding generation is almost gone.