Jerusalem – The Holon Cemetery was filled to capacity on Tuesday with hundreds of Israelis waiting outside to pay their respects to Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, better known by his nickname “Fuad”; the former defense minister, longtime MK, and Brigadier General who died on Sunday at the age of 80.
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Present at the ceremony where a host of prominent politicians from both sides of the aisle, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Zionist Union MK Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, and former President Shimon Peres.
Prime Minister Netanyahu eulogized Ben-Eliezer saying he was “a combination of vitality, grace, craftiness, and a lot of patriotism.” Throughout his speech Netanyahu repeatedly stated, “I loved Fuad.’ He continued stating, “speaking in all our names, we loved Fuad.”
Wife of the deceased politician, Dolly, told The Jerusalem Post that she remembers Ben-Eliezer “as a man full of life.” In her eulogy Dolly called Ben-Eliezer, “A big tent from which all corners were invited to draw energy without agenda.”
In an emotional speech, Yariv Ben-Eliezer, son of Binyamin held back tears while describing the impact of his father on his life and others. “So many people would tell me ‘there is the biological father and the father named Fuad – Fuad is not only your father,” Yariv stated.
Ben-Eliezer’s military and political career – reaching the level of Brigadier General, serving as Defense Minister to Ariel Sharon and leader of the Labor Party – started from humble beginnings as an Iraqi-born immigrant. At the age of 12 Ben-Eliezer immigrated to Israel without his parents.
“A Jewish boy who immigrated from Iraq, and remembered the sight of Jews hanging from utility poles, and contributed to years of service in the IDF and then to years of service to Israel’s security cabinet – so I loved Fuad,” stated Netanyahu.
Serving in the Golani Brigade, Ben-Eliezer went on to rise through the ranks commanding the elite Sayeret Shaked unit as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He ended his military career as a Brigadier General serving as coordinator of government activities in the Territories.
Former president Shimon Peres called Ben-Eliezer “An adored commander of the Shaked Patrol Unit and a commander of Judea and Samaria. A fearless warrior against terror.”
After leaving the military Ben-Eliezer began his political career joining the small Tami party, composed of mostly Middle Eastern Jews; the party sought to bridge gaps between Jews of European decent and Middle Eastern descent. He later joined the Labor Party in 1990s. Fuad would eventually go on to lead the Labor party in 2001 and assume the role of Defense Minister in a unity government led by Ariel Sharon.
Current opposition leader Isaac Herzog praised Ben-Eliezer for his service to the nation and the Labor Party. “We part from you dear Fuad in the dignity you deserve, in the presence of a great recognition of the many years you served the nation, the state, and the Labor Party.”
Yet Ben-Eliezer was marred with allegations of corruption in his later years, which forced the the former Defense Minister to withdraw from the 2014 presidential race.
According to an indictment filed last December Ben-Eliezer was accused of accepting $400,000 from a business man in exchange for political favors. Another charge accuses him of receiving funds during his term as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Employment. Fuad passed before a decision was reached and it is unclear how the case will proceed.
Ben-Eliezer’s lawyers stressed that he died an innocent man, never convicted of anything.
Herzog touched on the corruption allegations in Ben-Eliezer’s later years stating, “You Fuad, suffered quite a lot in recent times and even after your death there are expressions of inhumanity. Whereas everyone will attest the opposite that pure humanity was the front and center part of your personality.”
Zionist Union MK Eitan Broshi told the Post that Ben Eliezer, “will be remembered for what he did and contributed before the trial.”
Underlying the funeral was the fact that one of Ben-Eliezer’s five children, Ofir Ben-Eliezer, did not attend the funeral for fear of being arrested in connection with his father’s corruption investigation. Ben-Eliezer, who lives in the United States has a warrant for his arrest as he failed to appear for questioning. Speaking to Channel 2 on Tuesday Ofir accused the police investigation of leading to his father’s death. “I am absolutely convinced that [the police] buried my father,” he stated, “they made him sick.”
Police said in a response to Channel 2, ”We send our condolences to the family, this is no place to judge a man in the midst of their sorrow.”
As commemorations from across the political divide poured in only one figure – former Labor MK Yossi Beilin – has been critical of Ben-Eliezer calling him a “destructive politician,” on Channel 1 on Sunday.
In his eulogy former President Shimon Peres summed up the former Defense Minister’s wide-spread popularity and appeal. “Here, we say goodbye to you, representatives of all friends, right, left, religious and secular, members of all denominations and political parties, representatives of different religions. We have come to say thank you for your contribution to the security of the country, the seeds of hope that you spread, and your humanity,” the former president stated.