Israel's religious affairs minister David Azoulay died Tuesday after a long-term illness, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he praised the lawmaker.
"The government of Israel today mourns the death of our dear friend, the late minister David Azoulay," Netanyahu wrote in Hebrew on Twitter.
"For a long time we prayed for David's recovery, as he was fighting a serious illness," he said. "Unfortunately, his struggle for life ended a few hours ago." The cabinet office said that he would be buried in Jerusalem at 11:00 pm (2100 GMT).
Jewish custom demands burial as soon as possible after death. The 64-year-old's death was announced on Facebook by his ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which said it "bows its head" at his passing.
Writing on the same online page, Interior Minister Arye Deri wrote: "I weep for my dear and beloved friend and my comrade of many years."
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