Jerusalem – Yossi Sarid, a former government minister who remained a leading critic of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians until his final days, has died at age 75, his son said Friday.
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His son Yishai told Army Radio he died Friday night after suffering from a heart condition in recent years. “Dad was a fighter. He got up in the morning not for himself but really for the people of Israel and the public,” he said.
Sarid was one of the leaders of the Israeli peace camp and was among the most vocal in advocating Israeli territorial concessions to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians.
He was known for the sharp and fiery comments he would fling at political opponents. His toughest exchanges were with hawkish lawmakers and ultra-Orthodox Jewish members of parliament.
Sarid served in parliament for over four decades, including posts as education minister and environment minister. He led the dovish Meretz party before he retired in 2006.
He was an influential columnist for the Haaretz daily after he retired from politics and was a commentator on Army Radio.
Sarid was a strong critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking with The Associated Press last year, Sarid bemoaned the way Israel has veered sharply to the right in recent years. “I can hardly recognize the face of my country,” he said.
Zahava Galon of Meretz said the funeral will be held on Sunday.
Let the gates of Gehinom open up to accept him. Meretz=Sheretz.
Good Riddance for a soine yisrael
My father zol zein gezunt said SARID stands for Shem Reshuim Yirkov but didn”t know what to do with the daled now I guess it stands for Dead.
Beserois Toives & a Gutte Voch!
they should bury him in ramallah next to his beloved partner in peace.
Although he advocated ardently the “peace” overtures of the leftists towards the Arabs , and on many occasions he rallied with them and hugged them, The Arabs must have sensed the deep loathing he felt towards them, As manifested itself by the repulsion he and his ilk feel towards middle eastern culture, They show their true colors when it comes to the Shas party, against whom they conduct a constant crusade, as well as the Sephardic members of the Likud and other parties, that they do their utmost to exclude them from high positions, Sarid also held in contempt the Jewish religion, and consistently mocked its adherents, He used to release to the media statements and accusations against frum people a few minutes after candle lighting on friday nights, so it would be aired or published unanswered,
Said served in the artillery corps of the IDF. I doubt that a single one of you loudmouths ever did anywhere near as much for Israel as he did.
His ‘dream’ of peace and love with the Arabs caused many Israelis to be killed. He should be remembered for what he was, a delusional person who fought reality with outlandish delusions.
Why do you insist on referring to this dead liberal ally of Arafat as Dovish?
He was a dirty anti semite, a ugly person with a ugly mouth and now he will get his just reward
Every human being gets an involuntary invitation to face the Beis Din Shel Maalah.
Yossi, it’s your turn! Good luck!
he was a one sided politician who could not see the reality of Arab hatred. He ‘felt’ that if we love the Arabs enough, they will love us back.
totally stupid man….
I never thought I would be eulogizing Yossi Sarid
I didn’t know the man. However I heard him speak on many occasions. He did have a genuine concern for the poor and downtrodden, and always championed their cause. Every time he spoke, his words echoed the phrases of Tanach. He also claimed that he observed the SEDER -“Kehilchaso”. He was most certainly a proud Jew. I heard him sing “SheYibone Beis Hamikdash…”
Yes his view on the Religious PARTIES in Israel was harsh and vulgar, but it should not reflect his overall view on religious Jews. He opposed Religious Coercion and Religious Parties for what he perceived was their lack of moral conviction and moral turpitude, while hiding behind religion:רָאשֶׁיהָ בְּשֹׁחַד יִשְׁפֹּטוּ, וְכֹהֲנֶיהָ בִּמְחִיר יוֹרוּ, וּנְבִיאֶיהָ, בְּכֶסֶף יִקְסֹמוּ; וְעַל-יְהוָה, יִשָּׁעֵנוּ לֵאמֹר, הֲלוֹא יְהוָה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ, לֹא-תָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה.
He was a pragmatist above all. Misguided, -yes. Terribly so. Willing to view the Arabs with too much optimism.
אַפִלּוּ עָבַר כָּל יָמָיו, וְעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיוֹם מִיתָתוֹ וּמֵת בִּתְשׁוּבָתוֹ–כָּל עֲווֹנוֹתָיו נִמְחָלִין: שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “עַד אֲשֶׁר לֹא-תֶחְשַׁךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ”
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
And when I say that, I mean that the Dayan Hoemes has finally summoned this guy to the Beis Din shel Maaloh and will give him what’s coming to him.
He was actually a wonderful man who worked tirelessly for all Jews – including orthodox Jews he disagreed with politically. It seems most of the people posting here dislike the fact that he didn’t hate Muslims, but respected their humanity even when he fought against them during Israel’s wars of survival. What a shame. Hate is a poison that robs the soul of reason and blinds the conscious mind of a rational thought.