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British media tycoon Robert Maxwell was buried Sunday on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, according to his wishes, with all the pomp of a state funeral.
President Chaim Herzog and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir headed a galaxy of dignitaries and politicians, both government and opposition, who attended the funeral.
Herzog delivered the eulogy for the multimillionaire publisher, whose holdings in Israel. including Ma’ariv, are estimated at $300 million.
” He scaled the heights of human endeavor. Kings and princes waited on him. Many admired him. Many disliked him. But none was indifferent to him,” Herzog said.
Maxwell’s widow, Elizabeth, and their seven sons and daughters were at the graveside for the traditional Jewish burial service. Kaddish was recited by Maxwell’s longtime attorney and personal friend, fellow Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar.
Also present were the archbishop of Canterbury, as well as a group of the “Chernobyl children” Maxwell had helped save by his involvement in bringing them to Israel from the Soviet Union.
Earlier. his body had lain in state at Jerusalem’s Binyanei Ha’uma convention center, an honor usually reserved for Israel’s government leaders.
Maxwell, 68, died mysteriously Nov. 5 while cruising in his yacht near the Canary Islands. His nude body was recovered from the sea and taken to Las Palmas. Grand Canary Island, for an autopsy. It was flown to Israel last Friday after its release by the Spanish authorities.