Former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Shamir dead at 96
- Last Updated: 2:29 PM, June 30, 2012
- Posted: 2:29 PM, June 30, 2012
JERUSALEM — Israeli media are reporting that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir has died. He was 96.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned Shamir's death Saturday, saying in a statement that Shamir "led Israel with a deep loyalty to the nation."
Shamir's ability to remain true to his belief — that Israel must hang on to territory and never trust an Arab regime — guided him throughout his life.
Born Yitzhak Jazernicki in Poland in 1915, he moved to pre-state Palestine in 1935.
He served as prime minister for seven years, from 1983-84 and 1986-92. His term as prime minister was marked by the Palestinian uprising and the 1991 Gulf war, when Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel.
