Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today expresses both his sorrow, as well as that of the Government of Israel, over the passing of US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (http://tinyurl.com/27g3jc) and sends his condolences to his family.
 
Tom Lantos, a Jew born in Hungary, became an American patriot and faithfully served the American public.  He contributed decisively to the security of the State of Israel and greatly assisted in maintaining Israel as a Jewish state.  In his eyes, a strong Israel was a strategic asset to the US; he worked energetically in order to strengthen Israel-US relations.
 
The State of Israel mourns the loss of a true and dear friend who did much to maintain its strategic interests.  Ahead of Israel’s 60th anniversary, Prime Minister Olmert had decided to award Tom Lantos a special citation for his great contribution to the State of Israel and issued an announcement to this effect.
 
May Tom Lantos’s memory be blessed.