Joe Lieberman, Former US Senator and Champion of Israel, Passes Away at Age 82
Joe Lieberman, the former U.S. Senator known for his pro-Israel stance and his role as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82 in New York City. His family confirmed that his death was a result of complications from a fall.
The statement shared that Senator Lieberman was surrounded by his beloved wife, Hadassah, and family members when he passed. It also expressed that his love for God, his family, and America remained strong throughout his dedicated service to the public.
Lieberman made history as the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nominee in the 2000 election, where he ran alongside Al Gore against George W. Bush. Notably, Lieberman became the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket in the United States.
While the former senator was a loyal supporter of Israel, he did critique the Israeli government in 2019 for denying entry to Democrat Reps Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
Pro-Israeli organisation AIPAC said “the pro-Israel movement will always be indebted” to Lieberman and “his leadership was essential and critical in promoting policies that strengthened the bonds between the United States and Israel”.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the former senator as a “matchless champion of the Jewish people and the Jewish state”.
Lieberman became an independent after accusing members of the Democratic Party of saying “explicitly antisemitic things”.
He failed in a bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, hurt by his support for the Iraq War.
A centrist, Lieberman was first elected to the US Senate in 1988. He lost the state’s Democratic primary in 2006 but retained his seat by winning the general election as an independent candidate.
In a further break from the Democratic Party, Lieberman endorsed Republican Senator John McCain for president in a speech at the Republican National Convention 2008.
However, Lieberman would later back Democrats Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 in their presidential bids.
Lieberman retired from the Senate in 2013 after four six-year terms.
(Reuters)
