The Jewish Agency For Israel and the World Zionist Organization mourn the passing of their former Chairman Simcha Dinitz.

Simcha Dinitz, died Tuesday of a heart attack in Jerusalem at the age of 74.

In the 31st Zionist Congress, held in December 1987, Simcha Dinitz was elected Chairman of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel. He served in this capacity until February 1994.

In 1984, Simcha Dinitz was elected as a member of the Knesset, representing the Labor Party. He served in the Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee and the Knesset Committee. Prior to this, he served as Vice President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was appointed a Senior Fellow and the Chairman of its Leonard David Institute of International Relations.

Ambassador Dinitz concluded six years of service as Israel's Ambassador to the United States at the end of 1978. During his tenure he was accredited to three American Presidents (Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter), and he represented three Israeli Prime Minister (Mrs. Golda Meir, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin and Mr. Menachem Begin).

He arrived on the eve of the Yom Kippur War and left after the conclusion of the Camp David Agreement, where he was a member of the Israeli delegation conducting the negotiations.

Mr. Dinitz was born in Tel Aviv. He attended the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium Secondary School in Tel Aviv, was a member of the Haganah and served in the Israeli Defense Force during the War of Independence.

In 1950, he attended the University of Cincinnati and studied political science. Between 1951-1957, Mr. Dinitz attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and received his B.Sc. cum Laude from the School of Foreign Service and his M.Sc. degree, specializing in International Law.

In 1958 Mr. Dinitz returned to Jerusalem to the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 1960-1963, he served as the Head of the Office of the Director General of the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

From 1963-1966, he was Political Secretary to the Foreign Minister (Mrs. Golda Meir) and was also a member of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations.

From 1966-1968 he served as Minister of the Israeli Embassy in Rome, Italy.
From 1968-1969 he was Minister of Information in the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
From 1969-1973 he was Political Advisor to the Prime Minister (Mrs. Golda Meir) and Director-General of the Prime Minister's office.
From 1973-1978 Mr. Dinitz served as Ambassador of Israel to the United States, during the Yom Kippur War and the Camp David negotiations.

Mr. Dinitz has received a number of awards from various institutions, in Israel and the United States, and hold Honorary Doctorates from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio; Yeshiva University in New York; Georgetown University in Washington D.V.; Brandeis University, and the University of Nevada.

Mr. Dinitz published numerous articles in the fields of diplomacy, international relations and international law.

He is survived by his wife Vivian, his three children -- Tamar, Dorit and Michael, and his eight grandchildren.

The Chairman of the Jewish Agency For Israel and the World Zionist Organization, Sallai Meridor, praised Simcha Dinitiz's contribution to aliyah. He was instrumental in bringing over a million Jews to Israel after the fall of the FSU. Consequently, the emergency "Exodus" fund was established to help finance this endeavor. Additionally, thousands of Jews from Ethiopia made aliya during "Operation Solomon". Simcha Dinitz also contributed greatly to strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora.

The funeral will take place today 27 Elul 5763, Wednesday 24th September, 2003.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:

14:30-The Coffin will lie in state in the courtyard of The National Institutions, 48 King George Street, Jerusalem.

15:00-Eulogies

16:30-Burial on Mt. Herzl ,Jerusalem in the section of World Zionist Organization leaders

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