“Teddy was Jerusalem and Jerusalem was Teddy.” That is one of the many tributes that have been paid to the former mayor of the city Teddy Kollek, who has died at the age of 95. Kollek was known as a tireless advocate of Israeli-Palestinian coexistence in Jerusalem. He was re-elected five times to the post of mayor before losing in 1993 to Ehud Olmert, now Israel’s prime minister. Born Theodor Kollek in 1911, he immigrated to British-run Palestine from Vienna at the age of 24. Observers say he launched more ambitious building and restoration projects in Jerusalem than any other city leader since the 16th century. A close friend of the famous Jewish violinist Isaac Stern, Kollek had a passion for art and architecture.

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