Minister and former MK Binyamin ("Fuad") Ben-Eliezer passed away today (Sunday) at age 80.
Ben-Eliezer was transferred last Friday to the cardiology intensive care unit at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center after he was discovered to have heart failure.
Ben-Eliezer, who had suffered from severe kidney disease for years, was hospitalized in recent weeks in a general intensive care unit.
A month and a half ago, Ben-Eliezer reported feeling unwell during dialysis. He was moved to the neurological unit of the hospital and was checked for possible stroke symptoms.
Fuad made Aliya as a child by himself from Iraq straight to a kibbutz. He changed his name to Binyamin and served the State of Israel for over 60 years, 30 of them in the IDF as a combat soldier in Israel's wars, ending his service with the rank of Brigadier General.
During the other 30 years, Ben-Eliezer worked in the public sphere, 9 years as a Knesset member, and as a minister in a number of offices: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Construction, Minister of Defense, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Minister of Communications and Minister of Industry and Employment.
"Fuad was a leader, a fighter and a friend who worked during his entire life out of true love for the Land and People of Israel," his family said.