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Leading Israeli Author Amos Oz died of Cancer at the age of 79 on Dec. 28, 2018.
Oz was one of Israel’s best-known writers. He won multiple awards including the Israel Prize, the French Legion d’Honeur, the German Heinrich Heine prize, and a membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He had written 19 Fictional books which have been translated into 45 languages. “Black Box,” originally published in 1987 was his most famous. He was also known for his essays In the Land of Israel.
The author was a candidate multiple times for the Nobel Prize for literature but was never nominated.
He was a long time advocate for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which later labeled him as a traitor. He considered that to be a badge of honor.
One of his most popular works the best seller autobiographical novel entitled “A Tale of Love and Darkness” which was later made into a movie in 2015 which was directed by Natalie Portman.
Born Amos Klausner in Jerusalem in 1939. His novel “Where the Jackals Howl” was published in 1965 by Israeli Labor Party’s publishing house and was in Hebrew. His follow up, also was his 1968 breakthrough novel “My Michael.” It was written while he worked on a kibbutz and told the story of the love and marriage of a young woman in 1950s Jerusalem.
On Friday when his death was announced, tributes came from all over Israel and from around the globe.
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin called Oz Israel’s greatest writer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he was one of the greatest ever authors.
Culture Minister Miri Regev said his writings resounded around the world and inspired all our hearts. Regev often battled with Oz over differences in political beliefs.
Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint (Arab) List party, stated he was a man of equality.
Gidi Kleiman, BBC News producer stated that he was a voice for liberal Israel.
Oz is survived by his wife Nili and his three children.
Written by Barbara Sobel
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
The Times Of Israel: Amos Oz, ‘Israel’s greatest writer, advocate for peace, dies at 79
CNN: Prominent Israeli author Amos Oz dies at 79
BBC News: Amos Oz: Acclaimed Israeli author dies at 79
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