Former Knesset member and left-wing activist Meir Pa'il died at the age of 89 on Tuesday at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Jerusalem in 1926, Pa'il served in the Palmach and Israel Defense Forces. He fought in the 1948 War of Independence, the 1956 Sinai Campaign and the 1967 Six-Day War. He retired from the military in 1971 with the rank of colonel. Pa'il then turned to politics, taking part in the establishment of two now-defunct leftist political parties: first Moked, then the Left Camp of Israel. He was elected to the Knesset in 1973 and served for seven years, until his party failed to win any seats in the 1981 elections. Pa'il held a doctorate in military history. He is survived by a wife and four children. "Meir was one of the prominent figures in the Israeli Left, and even today his awe-inspiring image, which I first saw as young political activist, still resonates with me," said Meretz MK Ilan Gilon., "His fighting spirit as well his stubborn belief in peace and social justice accompanied him his whole life. He will forever be remembered as a decent and honest man and one of the most authentic leaders of the Israeli Left."
