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Long-serving Jerusalem mayor dies Long-serving Jerusalem mayor dies
(10 minutes later)
Israeli media have reported the death of Teddy Kollek, who served as the mayor of Jerusalem for nearly 30 years. Israeli Labour party veteran Teddy Kollek, who served as Jerusalem mayor for nearly 30 years, has died aged 95.
He was elected in 1965, two years before Israel captured the eastern half of the city, home to Jerusalem's Arab population and its main holy sites.He was elected in 1965, two years before Israel captured the eastern half of the city, home to Jerusalem's Arab population and its main holy sites.
He oversaw a building programme which reinforced Israeli claims to the city.He oversaw a building programme which reinforced Israeli claims to the city.
After six terms in office, the Labour politician lost his post in 1993, defeated by right-winger Ehud Olmert, who is now prime minister.After six terms in office, the Labour politician lost his post in 1993, defeated by right-winger Ehud Olmert, who is now prime minister.
Mr Olmert paid tribute to his erstwhile opponent, calling him "one of the founding fathers of Israel... who made the name of Jerusalem shine throughout the world".
Long tenureLong tenure
Theodor Kollek was born in Austria-Hungary in 1911 and grew up in Vienna.Theodor Kollek was born in Austria-Hungary in 1911 and grew up in Vienna.
He left for British Mandate Palestine in 1935, three years before Nazi Germany took control of Austria and 13 years before the establishment of the state of Israel.He left for British Mandate Palestine in 1935, three years before Nazi Germany took control of Austria and 13 years before the establishment of the state of Israel.
We proved that Jerusalem is a better city united than divided. People of differing faiths, cultures and aspirations must find peaceful ways to live other than by drawing a line in the sand Teddy KollekWe proved that Jerusalem is a better city united than divided. People of differing faiths, cultures and aspirations must find peaceful ways to live other than by drawing a line in the sand Teddy Kollek
He joined the socialist Kibbutz movement, but was also active in military and political spheres - helping to supply illegal weapons to the irregular Jewish forces which would become future Israeli army.He joined the socialist Kibbutz movement, but was also active in military and political spheres - helping to supply illegal weapons to the irregular Jewish forces which would become future Israeli army.
In 1952 Kollek became chief aide to Israel's founding prime minister, David Ben Gurion, a position he held for 12 years.In 1952 Kollek became chief aide to Israel's founding prime minister, David Ben Gurion, a position he held for 12 years.
His election as mayor of Jerusalem in 1965 began a generation-long tenure that would define his career as a modest, straight-dealing pragmatist.His election as mayor of Jerusalem in 1965 began a generation-long tenure that would define his career as a modest, straight-dealing pragmatist.
The Israeli website Haaretz says Teddy Kollek's ambitious building and restoration projects in Jerusalem were unequalled since the 16th-century Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.The Israeli website Haaretz says Teddy Kollek's ambitious building and restoration projects in Jerusalem were unequalled since the 16th-century Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
He is said to be the most influential Jewish builder of the city since Herod the Great in Biblical times.He is said to be the most influential Jewish builder of the city since Herod the Great in Biblical times.
'United city''United city'
In the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem, and added a large Palestinian Arab population to his constituency.In the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem, and added a large Palestinian Arab population to his constituency.
Kollek advocated co-existence between Arabs and Jews. But there were no doubts about his commitment to underpin what Israelis saw as their "unification" of the city under their exclusive control.Kollek advocated co-existence between Arabs and Jews. But there were no doubts about his commitment to underpin what Israelis saw as their "unification" of the city under their exclusive control.
"We proved that Jerusalem is a better city united than divided," he once said."We proved that Jerusalem is a better city united than divided," he once said.
"Jerusalem's people of differing faiths, cultures and aspirations must find peaceful ways to live together other than by drawing a line in the sand.""Jerusalem's people of differing faiths, cultures and aspirations must find peaceful ways to live together other than by drawing a line in the sand."
Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of a future Palestinian state.Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Kollek was defeated in his bid for a seventh term by an campaign by Mr Olmert that targeted the health and age of his still-popular opponent.Kollek was defeated in his bid for a seventh term by an campaign by Mr Olmert that targeted the health and age of his still-popular opponent.
In 1937 he married Tamar Schwartz. They had two children, daughter Osnat and son Amos, who went on to become an award-winning film director and actor.In 1937 he married Tamar Schwartz. They had two children, daughter Osnat and son Amos, who went on to become an award-winning film director and actor.