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Ezer Weizman z"l 1914-2005y Ran Reznick, David Ratner and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencieswith Permission from ©Haaretzdaily Former president Ezer Weizman, a larger-than-life figure who played a key role in establishing the Israel Air Force and in forging peace with Egypt, died Sunday evening at his home in Caesarea at the age of 80. His successor, President Moshe Katsav, said Monday that along with all of Israel, he was "in pain and in shock" over Weizman's passing. "Ezer was a symbol and example of the Israeli sabra," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on learning that Weizman, who had been in declining health in recent months, had passed away. "Every station in his life was a cornerstone in the building of this country," Sharon said in a statement. "Today, I have lost a commander and good friend." Weizman will lay in state at the Or Akiva cultural center Tuesday from 9 A.M. until 2 P.M. and the public will be able to pay its final respects. His funeral will be held at 4 P.M. Weizman will be eulogized by President Moshe Katsav, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel Air Force Commander Eliezer Shakedi and Weizman's daughter Michal. Following the ceremony, the funeral procession will depart for the Or Akiva cemetery. Weizman will receive a military funeral and his casket will be borne by eight major generals. Pilots from the 101st Squadron, Weizman's old unit, will conduct an overflight during his funeral. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on Tuesday at public institutions, including the Knesset, the Supreme Court, the President's Residence, the Prime Minister's Office and the office of the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff in Tel Aviv. A Spitfire plane, which Weizman piloted for many years, circle Israel Air Force Museum in Hatzerim on Monday afternoon to commemorate his death. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Weizman's widow, Reuma, on Monday to express his condolences. Mubarak referred to Weizman as "my dear friend" and apologized for not being able to attend the funeral, saying he had to remain in Egypt to host the visiting Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Jordan's Prince Hassan, brother of the late King Hussein, said Monday that Weizman was "the human face of Israel." Speaking to Israel Radio, Hassan said that "he didn't take himself seriously, but he took other people seriously. In the world of politics and public life we have many pompous people around, but he was a person who emphasized friendship and brotherhood between Arabs and Israelis." Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Monday also expressed his condolences on the death of Weizman to Katsav, the Israeli people and the Weizman family. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter released a statement expressing his condolences on the death of Weizman. Carter said Weizman was a real Israeli hero both in times of war and of peace. Weizman, the nephew of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, was born in Tel Aviv on June 15, 1924. He learned to fly at 16 and volunteered to serve in Great Britain's Royal Air Force at age 18, in the midst of World War II. He later became one of the founding officers and pilots of the Israel Air Force and undertook daring missions during the 1948 War of Independence. In 1958, Weizman was appointed commander of the IAF. He held the post for eight years, during which he laid the groundwork for the modern air force that spearheaded Israel's lightning offensives in the 1967 Six Day War. Becoming deputy chief of staff to then-army chief Yitzhak Rabin, he also played a key role in the direction of the war. 'From Greater Land of Israel to Labor'According to Katsav, Weizman was one of those "who best exemplified 'Israeliness' throughout the years of the state's existence in the full meaning of the word, his way, his style, his outlook, his determination not to compromise his beliefs and his principles, and it was this that brought him to his various roles on the political map, from the Greater Land of Israel to the Labor Party." Katsav said Weizman had made a unique contribution to the fashioning of the state of Israel and its path, citing the late president's role in the 1967 war, in the 1977 Likud election victory after 29 years of Labor Party domination, in the peace treaty with Egypt and as Katsav's predecessor. "With his personal charm and magnetism, his determination, his optimism, his 'fighter-ism,' he swept many others with him, and penetrated the hearts of many in Israel," Katsav said. Transition from hawk to doveThe shift from military service to political life came naturally to Weizman. In three decades of political life, he made a highly public transition from hawk to dove, saying the Jews had to learn to "share this part of the world" with the Arabs. His military experience enabled Weizman to be among the first in contact with Arab channels regarding peace processes. In the late 1970s he was in close contact with Egyptians ahead of the peace treaty between the two states. As defense minister in Begin's government, he established close ties with Egyptian president Anwar Sadat. The personal chemistry between the two helped advance the treaty. In 1980, Weizman resigned from his post due to disagreements with Begin over the pace at which the agreement was being implemented. In the late 1980s, Weizman met with Palestine Liberation Organization officials in Europe, at a time when such activities were illegal. The prime minister at the time, Yitzhak Shamir, threatened to dismiss him. Toward the end of Chaim Herzog's tenure as president, Weizman appeared to be the leading candidate for the position. Despite a certain lack of desire on his part, he agreed to take the post due to public pressure. Weizman served as Israel's seventh president from 1993-2000. As president, he invited Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to his house in an effort to advance the peace process. His casual style breathed life into the largely ceremonial office and endeared him to many Israelis. Weizman was forced to resign as president over a police probe into allegations of bribery while he had served as a lawmaker and cabinet minister. Charges were never pressed as the statute of limitations had expired. He returned home to dieWeizman was hospitalized two months ago suffering from pneumonia and spent most of the time in intensive care in an induced coma and on a respirator. He was released from the intensive care unit at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa 10 days ago and, according to a Rambam physician, he was fully conscious and breathing on his own. However, according to close associates, Weizman was released from the hospital in poor condition and had in fact returned home to die. Weizman lost consciousness Sunday at 5:30 P.M. and he died at 7:30 P.M, Levy said. Mourners streamed toward the house on Hadekel Street in Caesarea where Weizman had lived. Among them was MK Yaakov Edri, deputy minister of public security and former mayor of Or Akiva, another close family friend. "The first thing I said to Reuma was that Ezer had returned home." With regard to Weizman's burial in Or Akiva, Edri said, "Ten years ago, when his son Shauli and daughter-in-law Racheli were killed in a traffic accident, Ezer came with a blank check and asked to buy a burial plot for him and Reuma next to their graves. Or Akiva was his protege. He used to sit in a restaurant and play backgammon with the locals. That was Ezer Weizman for us." Yael Dayan, Weizman's niece, who visited the family Sunday night, said when she left, "The feeling of loss is like losing my father. Now Ezer too is gone. It's a kind of leadership that's very difficult to do without. I am glad he did not suffer at the end and was glad to have Passover at home." MoreHaaretzBiography http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/568496.htmlObituary http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/568506.html Official websitesKnesset President of Israel Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs MiscellaneousAmerican Jewish Congress HEBREWOfficial websites Knesset Israel Air Force Prime Minister's Office (photo) MiscellaneousCET/Matach Wikipedia
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