'He left such a big mark'

On Friday evening, Yossi Sarid -- a minister, MK, columnist and media personality -- died at age 75. Sarid was one of the only politicians that everyone remembers fondly. He was admired by supporters and opponents alike. Above all, he was possibly the last vestige of a pioneering kind of politics that goes all the way, with total conviction.

Though he quit politics in 2006, he continued to voice his political opinions in newspaper articles and as an opinionated radio host.

On Friday evening, at around 8:30 p.m., an ambulance arrived at his home in Tel Aviv after he suffered cardiac arrest and lost consciousness. Paramedics administered first aid for over an hour but failed to resuscitate him, ultimately declaring him dead at the scene.

Yishai Sarid, Yossi's son, eulogized his father and said that his criticism toward the state stemmed from his earnest and deep affection for Israel. "He never stopped fighting, and that is the lesson we should take from his life," Yishai Sarid said. "That we should always keep fighting for the right and just path for the state of Israel."

Though many in the political arena did not agree with Sarid's views, there was unanimous admiration for his work. President Reuven Rivlin remarked, "Sarid was a tough opponent -- very challenging and true to his beliefs. But even when his criticism was piercing and unpleasant, his opponents always treated him with the utmost seriousness and respect. Ideologically, he never cut anyone any slack, not even himself."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also eulogized Sarid, saying, "Yossi Sarid was a unique voice in Israeli politics. He was opinionated and sharp. Though we disagreed on many issues, I admired his dedication, his extensive knowledge and the excellent Hebrew he spoke and wrote.

"He will be remembered for being an outstanding parliamentarian, a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and an education minister who fought to advance the education system in Israel."

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon added, "Yossi Sarid was an Israeli patriot who put the future and security of the state at the top of his priority list. Sarid didn't just talk, he took action. Among other things, he moved to Galilee when the area was bombarded with Katyusha rockets from Lebanon; he fought against public corruption even as a young MK. The political arena, both on the Left and the Right, is in desperate need of politicians like him."

National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Minister Yuval Steinitz said, "I worked with Yossi on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent, articulate and critical members of the committee. Yossi stood out in his loftiness and his fine rhetoric. He brought honor to the Israeli democracy."

Meretz leader Zehava Galon remarked, "This is an enormous loss for the entire state, and beyond that, a personal loss that words cannot begin to describe. Yossi was a guide, a beacon of morality and responsibility, a great lover of Israel and the very model of a leader. When Yossi took the podium, the room would go silent. When he put his mind to something, nothing could stand in his way."

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said that Sarid's "beliefs, his writing and his work are a glorious legacy that will accompany us all for many years to come."

Zionist Union MK Amir Peretz added that Sarid was a "man of conscience, a man of vision and a man of action. He was a powerful defensive shield in the face of violence and racism in Israel."

Shlomit Amichai, who served as the director of the Education Ministry during Sarid's time as minister, said, "At our first meeting, he outlined on a paper napkin the 13 issues that he wanted to address as minister. I kept that napkin for the entire duration of his term.

"On his first day in the ministry he went to the wall where photos of the various directors hung and looked at the photo of his father, the late Yaakov Sarid, and said: 'if only I could tell you that I'm here.' I caught a glimpse of his sensitive side, where most people saw him as a cynic.

"The most impressive part about him was the connections he made with people. He spoke to many and lived their problems. To this day people don't believe that he was education minister for only one year. He left such a big mark."

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