Knesset Finance Committee member, MK Ariel Weinstein (Likud), died
Saturday night of cardiac arrest at his Jerusalem home. He was 63 years old
at the time of his death. His funeral will leave the Sanhedria Funeral Home in
Jerusalem Monday morning at 11:00 am.
Weinstein died in his sleep at 1:30 am, just an hour after going to sleep,
following an exhausting evening of travel and meetings throughout Israel as
part of his primaries campaign. "I am optimistic," he said, about his chances
in the primaries at our last meeting, Thursday night at the Knesset, despite
the merging of the Likud list with the Tzomet and Gesher parties, however, he
looked tired and sad.
Weinstein entered the 10th Knesset in 1982 and served until the end of
the 12th Knesset in 1992. He entered the current Knesset two years
ago.
In each term of office, Weinstein belonged to the small group of MK's who
carry the weight of economic legislation, particularly in the Finance
Committee. He was the ranking coalition member on this committee in the
previous Knesset.
Committee Chair Gedalia Gal remembered Weinstein today as someone
who preferred to act in the committee in the interests of the economy, and
leave the politicking to the Knesset floor. "He was particularly sensitive to the
man-in-the-street, small dealers, and concerned about the common people",
Gal stated.