Yitzhak Shamir Dies: Former Israeli Prime Minister Passes Away at 96

Yitzhak Shamir, an Israeli politician and the seventh Prime Minister of Israel, died over the weekend at the age of 96, CNN is reporting.

Born in Poland in 1915, Shamir moved to Palestine in 1935 where he joined the Likud movement, serving as a member of Israel’s parliament, and also worked for the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence service.

Shamir, known for his firm opposition to the idea of trading occupied land for peace with the Palestinians, served as Israel’s prime minister in 1983 and held the position to 1984, then again was premier from 1986 to 1992.

He also was Israel’s foreign minister from 1980 to 1986.

Following his defeat in the 1992 elections, Shamir retired from politics. In 2001, he was given his nation’s highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize.

Current Israeli PM, Binyamin Netanyahu, praised Shamir at his weekly cabinet meeting, holding a moment of silence in Yitzhak’s honor:

“Yitzhak Shamir was part of a generation of giants who established the state of Israel. He had dedicated his life and all of his might to ensure the existence of the state, to ensure the freedom of the people of Israel in its land, to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel, and also to ensure the in gathering of the exiles.”

Shamir will always be remembered as someone who was “determined, exact, brave and modest,” Netanyahu added.

Israeli media said a Yitzhak Shamir’s funeral would be held Monday. He was to be buried alongside his wife Shulamit who died last year at the age of 88.

The IBTimes has more on Yitzhak Shamir passing in the video below: