Many of us in Israel are in a state of both shock and deep sadness about the loss of Sheldon. The fact is that those of us who knew him understood how deep his love was for both the US and for Israel.
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He understood what nations like ours needed to survive. And he always wanted to know what he could personally do. He knew that we were both engaged in a war of ideas. If hostile ideas prevailed, we would all be in danger.
You might remember that when we started to work together in 2000, the Camp David Summit had just collapsed. It had proposed dividing Jerusalem and pushing Israel back to the 1967 lines.
The Clinton team sought to preserve the Camp David legacy of Israeli concessions. With Sheldon's backing, we insisted on Israel's right to "defensible borders" and to a united Jerusalem. He could enter the White House and would not be intimidated. He knew what needed to be done.
I believe what Sheldon stood for will live on. And it is our duty to make sure that happens. I know for a fact that you walked with him hand in hand, with one purpose in mind: the survival and strengthening of Israel.
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Of course, for you and the inner family, this is a very personal loss and I share your pain. Looking from the outside, it is the loss of a giant of our times.
He was a hero of the Jewish people at a time when there are too few heroes. He will be sorely missed by me.
Dr. Dore Gold is the president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and the former director-general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
