Ex-Supreme Court chief justice Shamgar lies in state

Israelis pay their respects to retired Supreme Court chief justice Meir Shamgar, who died over the weekend at 94.

Shamgar’s coffin is lying in state at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, a building whose construction he championed.

“Dad fulfilled the Zionist vision that was so deeply ingrained in him throughout his life, from a sense of mission and commitment to the nation, the land, the society and the fundamental values he carried on his shoulders,” Dan Shamgar says in a eulogy for his father, according to Channel 13 news.

Among those paying their respects are Supreme Court Chief Justice Ester Hayut, President Reuven Rivlin, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz.

“You were committed to devoted to human rights and the rule of law. You stood up for the importance of checks and balances between the branches [of government]. Balances whose purpose is to prevent the creation of excessive governmental power,” Rivlin says.

Shamgar will be buried later this afternoon at Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem.