Tony Benn, a long time British left wing politician and former cabinet minister, passed away on Thursday at the age of 88.
Benn retired from parliament in 2001 after serving more than 50 years as an MP. He was known througout his career as someone who was unafraid to speak his mind and stand up for his principles, however controversial they might have been.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter: "There was never a dull moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with everything he said."
On the Palestinian issue, Benn was equally as vocal.
"The main responsibility for the appalling crimes being perpetrated against the Palestinians must be equally shared between Jerusalem and Washington for successive American governments have funded Israel, armed Israel and used their veto at the Security Council to protect Israel from being forced to comply with what world opinion wanted," Benn said in 2003 during an interview with Al-Ahram.
During the 2008-2009 Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, Benn openly defied a BBC ban on broadcasting an appeal for Gaza by making the appeal himself during a televised interview on a BBC program.
