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| Influential Israeli Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies | Influential Israeli Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The influential leader of Israel's Sephardic Jewish community, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has died aged 93. | The influential leader of Israel's Sephardic Jewish community, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has died aged 93. |
| Vigils had been held for the past month at a hospital in Jerusalem where he was being treated as his health declined. He will be buried later on Monday. | Vigils had been held for the past month at a hospital in Jerusalem where he was being treated as his health declined. He will be buried later on Monday. |
| The rabbi was a leading Torah scholar and arbiter of Halacha, or Jewish law. | |
| He was also the spiritual leader of the Shas party, which he founded in 1984 to boost representation for Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin. | He was also the spiritual leader of the Shas party, which he founded in 1984 to boost representation for Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin. |
| Until then, Israel's government and religious institutions had tended to be dominated by Ashkenazi Jews - those of European descent. | Until then, Israel's government and religious institutions had tended to be dominated by Ashkenazi Jews - those of European descent. |
| Though it is currently in opposition, Shas became a kingmaker in several coalition governments. | Though it is currently in opposition, Shas became a kingmaker in several coalition governments. |
| Shas leader Arye Deri sobbed uncontrollably as he expressed his grief. | Shas leader Arye Deri sobbed uncontrollably as he expressed his grief. |
| "How will we remain alone. Who will lead us,'' he asked, referring to the rabbi as "our father". | "How will we remain alone. Who will lead us,'' he asked, referring to the rabbi as "our father". |
| Controversial comments | Controversial comments |
| Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "deep sorrow" at the news of Rabbi Yosef's death, describing him as "among the greatest rabbis of our generation". | Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "deep sorrow" at the news of Rabbi Yosef's death, describing him as "among the greatest rabbis of our generation". |
| "Rabbi Ovadia was a giant in Torah and Jewish law and a teacher for tens of thousands," he said in a statement. | "Rabbi Ovadia was a giant in Torah and Jewish law and a teacher for tens of thousands," he said in a statement. |
| "The Jewish People have lost one of the wisest men of this generation." | "The Jewish People have lost one of the wisest men of this generation." |
| The Iraqi-born cleric was also known for his controversial comment about Arabs, secular Jews, liberals, women and gays. | The Iraqi-born cleric was also known for his controversial comment about Arabs, secular Jews, liberals, women and gays. |
| He once likened Palestinians to snakes, and in 2010 called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to "vanish from our world". | He once likened Palestinians to snakes, and in 2010 called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to "vanish from our world". |
| However, he also encouraged Israeli politicians to engage in the peace process with the Palestinians and by abstaining, helped secure the passage of the first Oslo peace accord through the Knesset. | However, he also encouraged Israeli politicians to engage in the peace process with the Palestinians and by abstaining, helped secure the passage of the first Oslo peace accord through the Knesset. |
| President Abbas, meeting visiting Israeli MPs in Ramallah on Monday, asked them to send his condolences to Rabbi Yosef's family. | President Abbas, meeting visiting Israeli MPs in Ramallah on Monday, asked them to send his condolences to Rabbi Yosef's family. |
| The rabbi's son, Yitzhak Yosef, is the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel. | The rabbi's son, Yitzhak Yosef, is the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel. |