Delivering a eulogy at the official state funeral, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "David Ben-Gurion declared Jerusalem Israel's capital in 1949 - and Teddy Kollek made it so."
Kollek's first term of office encompassed the Six Day War in 1967, when IDF forces unified the city under Israeli sovereignty for the first time in 2,000 years. Teddy Kollek "seized the moment," Olmert said, and "created Jerusalem anew when it was unified in 1967."
Olmert, who defeated Kollek in municipal elections in 1993, said that while Jerusalem has had dedicated mayors before and after Kollek's multiple terms of office, "there will never be another Teddy Kollek... Jerusalem was the center of his being."
Uri Lupolianski, the current mayor of Jerusalem, eulogized Mr. Kollek as well:
Also in attendance at the funeral Thursday afternoon were President Moshe Katzav, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Supreme Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinish, Jewish National Fund President Ron Lauder, Professor Bernard Lewis, philanthropist and businessman Charles Bronfman, and Israeli political, cultural and religious leaders, along with many foreign dignitaries and diplomats stationed in Israel.
Earlier on Thursday morning, Teddy Kollek's casket was placed in front of Jerusalem City Hall, draped with an Israeli flag. Hundreds of people filed past the casket before a parting ceremony was held outside the municipal complex, where flags were lowered to half-mast.
Kollek passed away Tuesday at the age of 95. He is survived by his widow, Tamar, two children and five grandchildren. See Arutz-7's full obituary of Mr. Kollek at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=118581.
Kollek's first term of office encompassed the Six Day War in 1967, when IDF forces unified the city under Israeli sovereignty for the first time in 2,000 years. Teddy Kollek "seized the moment," Olmert said, and "created Jerusalem anew when it was unified in 1967."
Olmert, who defeated Kollek in municipal elections in 1993, said that while Jerusalem has had dedicated mayors before and after Kollek's multiple terms of office, "there will never be another Teddy Kollek... Jerusalem was the center of his being."
Uri Lupolianski, the current mayor of Jerusalem, eulogized Mr. Kollek as well:
All of Jerusalem today is saying farewell to our Teddy. Upon this small mound of earth... there will arise a small stone monument, but it will not be the sole monument in Jerusalem. There are hundreds of monuments - streets, promenades, neighborhoods and more. For many years to come, Jerusalem's mayors will be proud of many accomplishments that are the product of plantings you made.... Teddy and Jerusalem - you were always one.Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik, who once served as Teddy Kollek's vice mayor, said of Jerusalem that it is where Kollek "made his dream come true. Teddy healed Jerusalem from the wounds of 19 years of separation. In place of fences, he planted trees and in place of mines, he paved roads." She concluded her eulogy by saying, "Israel's Knesset salutes you today."
...You loved Jerusalem and the residents of Jerusalem returned that love to you. Look around and see how everyone has gathered and come to you, to part from you.
Also in attendance at the funeral Thursday afternoon were President Moshe Katzav, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Supreme Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinish, Jewish National Fund President Ron Lauder, Professor Bernard Lewis, philanthropist and businessman Charles Bronfman, and Israeli political, cultural and religious leaders, along with many foreign dignitaries and diplomats stationed in Israel.
Earlier on Thursday morning, Teddy Kollek's casket was placed in front of Jerusalem City Hall, draped with an Israeli flag. Hundreds of people filed past the casket before a parting ceremony was held outside the municipal complex, where flags were lowered to half-mast.
Kollek passed away Tuesday at the age of 95. He is survived by his widow, Tamar, two children and five grandchildren. See Arutz-7's full obituary of Mr. Kollek at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=118581.