In the wake of the death of former First Minister of Northern Ireland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the Rt. Hon. Lord David Trimble, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder expressed his condolences over his passing.
"In addition to being a great statesman, Lord Trimble was a lifelong friend and ally of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," he said, adding that he appreciated his constant efforts in the House of Lords to speak out against anti-Zionism.
"I also recall his valiant service as one of the international observers on the Turkel Commission that investigated the May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid and blockade of Gaza."
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder
Non-Jewish Friends of Israel
Indeed, Trimble has been a member of the non-Jewish Friends of Israel Initiative since 2010 when it was first launched.
Later that same year, he was appointed an observer to the Turkel Commission, an Israeli-run inquiry into the Gaza flotilla raid from earlier that year, investigating whether Israel's actions were in accordance with international law.
The panel found that Israel's actions were legal.
"We will miss his courage, his integrity, and his wise counsel," Lauder concluded. "On behalf of the more than 100 Jewish communities affiliated with the World Jewish Congress, I extend our deepest condolences to Lord Trimble’s family. May his memory be for a blessing."