The funeral of the 11th Knesset Speaker, the late Shlomo Hillel, was held today (Wednesday) in the section of the nation’s greats on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The current Speaker of the Knesset, MK Yariv Levin, the Chairman of the Labor Party, MK Merav Michaeli, the Chairman of the Council for the Preservation of Sites, Uri Or and the son of the late Hillel, Ari, delivered eulogies In his memory.
In his eulogy, the Speaker of the Knesset, Knesset Member Yariv Levin, said: The Knesset of Israel and the entire nation mourn the passing of an extraordinary man, a public messenger in the full sense of the word, whose life was sacred to the fulfillment of the Zionist vision of the resurrection of the Jewish people in his country.
Shlomo Hillel became a full partner in the leadership of the state in its early days, as part of the founding generation to whom we owe the restoration of the state and many of its achievements. Few people have done for their people so much, and for so many years.
Dear Shlomo, I thank you on behalf of the Knesset and on behalf of all Israeli citizens, for your glorious and extensive work over the years, for the Jewry of Arab countries, Iraq and Iran, for Ethiopian Jewry, for Israel’s foreign relations, for settlement, for building the country – for the State of Israel. “
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The funeral of the late Shlomo Hillel (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman, Yossi Zamir)The Minister of Economy and Industry, Amir Peretz, said goodbye on behalf of the Israeli government: “Shlomo left a mark on things that changed reality and affected the lives of many citizens. He proved that it is possible to go against the flow. He inspired hundreds of thousands of children growing up in transit camps.
How sad that such a day, which could have gathered thousands of people from all over the world to pay its last respects to him, was done in a limited way because of the virus. But it is possible that if you were asked, Shlomo, that is how you would choose the funeral. A humble and humble man. That’s how you were and that’s how you went. Rest in peace”.
Amir Peretz (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman, Yossi Zamir)The chairman of the Labor Party, MK Merav Michaeli, also paid tribute to Hillel: “So much sadness and pain envelops us with your passing, Shlomo. Another cornerstone of the State of Israel is being taken from us, and this building stands thanks to your contribution and that of your partners. Only last Thursday were we so excited when Shlomo added his name to the 24th Knesset list. His spine could not be missed; It was always clear to him what he was doing. It will always remain a model. “
Merav Michaeli pays tribute to the late Shlomo Hillel (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman, Yossi Zamir)The chairman of the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites, Uri Or, said: “I was privileged to work with a huge man, humble and accomplished and active, admired by all and humble. His fingerprints are visible everywhere. “
Hillel’s son, Ari, paid tribute to his father and said: “My father applied the Law of Return to Ethiopian Jews. In those years a little girl named Natamar lived in Ethiopia. Thanks to this decision she immigrated to Israel. I later met her and got married. In fact, without describing it, my father signed a decision “That would allow the immigration of Ethiopian Jews without him being able to guess that this decision would make him a proud and happy grandfather. Isn’t that a miracle? In these difficult days, we must learn the lesson: unity and integration between all parts of the people. Shlomo Hillel was a wonderful father and wonderful grandfather. We will miss him so much.”
Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin next to Moshe Hillel’s grave (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman Yossi Zamir)Hillel passed away last Monday at the age of 97. Hillel was a member of the Labor Party, and served as a Member of Knesset on its behalf for four decades, in various but non-consecutive terms. Among his various positions was Hillel, Minister of the Interior and Police, as well as Speaker of the Ninth Knesset from 1988-1984. In 1998, several years after leaving the Knesset, he won the Israel Prize for his special contribution to Israeli society and the state. Hillel also served as chairman of the Site Preservation Council.
Hillel was born in Iraq in 1923 and immigrated to Israel with his family when he was 11. In the 1940s, he helped bring Jews from Iraq, and was one of the founders of Kibbutz Maagan Michael. In 1952 he was elected to the Knesset on behalf of Mapai, and in 1959 he was elected Ambassador of Israel to Guinea, and later also to the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Until 1969 he continued to serve in various positions in the Foreign Ministry, then was re-elected to the Knesset.