Former Member of Knesset Yosef Tamir passed away at the age of 94 and was laid to rest Monday evening in the presence of his family.
The Ukrainian native came to the Land of Israel in 1924. He was elected to the Knesset for the first time in 1965 as a member of the Gahal (Gush Heirut v'Liberalim) party which was put together by the Heirut and Liberal parties. He was one of the co-founders of the Likud party, which was formed in 1973, when that nucleus was joined by the National List (Reshimah Mamlachtit) and the Free Center (Mercaz Hofshi). He left the Likud and became a member of the old Shinui party in 1979.
Tamir was known for his public activities on behalf of the environment, chairing the Knesset's Environmental Committee as well as the State Control Committee. He was awarded environmental prizes by the Knesset and the United Nations.