Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today, issued the following statement on the passing of former minister and Israel Prize laureate MK Yitzhak Ben-Aharon:

“Today, the State of Israel has lost one of its giants.  Yitzhak Ben-Aharon was a true Zionist and outstanding idelogue who, for decades, did not hesitate to make his pointed and unique opinions heard. 

He was one of the founding fathers of the Zionist movement and of the developing state as an MK, minister and Secy.-Gen. of the Histadrut. 

He was a workers’ leader and a genuine symbol of courageous leadership.  As a politician and statesman, Yitzhak was admirable and worthy of respect. 

I send condolences to the Ben-Aharon family.”