(1 Jul 1977) Funeral of Israeli Housing Minister Ofer who committed suicide which was attended by Premier Rabin and former Premier Meir
lead in: israeli prime minister yitzhak rabin on wednesday (january 5th) professed his belief in the innocence of one of his cabinet ministers who committed suicide over a scandal investigation. rabin's statement came at the funeral in tel aviv of housing minister avraham ofer, who shot himself while under investigation on charges of mishandling funds of a trade union housing company. the funeral came on the day israel's parliament voted to dissolve itself and set national elections for may 17th, with rabin heading a caretaker government. the dead minister, who snot himself in the head, was given a state funeral service in tel aviv city hall.
commentary: thousands of citizens filed past to pay their last respects at the black catafalque, draped with the israeli flag and surrounded by a guard of honour from the parliamentary police force. the mourners were led by ofer's widow and three sons. (natsof) premier rabin led hundreds of government and labour party officials, including the rest of the cabinet. also present was former prime minister golda meir. in his eulogy, rabin said he had believed ofer when the housing minister said he was innocent. rabin paid tribute to ofer's organising ability and said his mark could be seen across the map of israel. then the late minister's coffin was taken to the kiryat shaul cemetery, on the outskirts of tel aviv, for burial, chief rabbi shlomo goren had authorised burial in the central section of the cemetery, despite a jewish tradition which calls for suicides to be buried at the fringes of a graveyard. as ofer's coffin was lowered into the grave, his three sons read the kaddish, the traditional prayer for the dead. (natsof)
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