Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish vice presidential nominee of a major party, passed away Wednesday in New York City due to complications from a fall.

The former Connecticut senator was 82 at the time of his passing.

Lieberman has had a significant impact on American politics with his centrist views. His career milestones include serving as Connecticut’s Attorney General before being elected to the United States Senate in 1988, where he served for four terms. His bipartisan approach often bridged the traditional divide between Democrats and Republicans.

Lieberman’s national recognition peaked in the 2000 U.S. presidential election when he was chosen as Democratic nominee Al Gore’s running mate, marking a historic moment as the first major party ticket to include a Jewish candidate.

His staunch support for Israel was deeply intertwined with his faith and political work. Lieberman played a pivotal role in securing US financial aid to help Israel build the Iron Dome. He was a key advocate for the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, pushing for the U.S. to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Lieberman also co-sponsored resolutions against Iran, advocating for stringent sanctions to deter its nuclear ambitions.

In Lieberman’s last filmed interview, he slammed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for suggesting Israel needs new leadership.

“Imagine if Schumer had made a similar appeal to the people of Britain to overthrow Prime Minister Sunak for some reason, or the people of Ukraine to overthrow President Zelenskyy because he wasn’t making enough progress in the war,” Lieberman told Fox News host Neil Cavuto.

“Give them a little more time. They will effectively destroy Hamas. And then there can be a cease-fire and hopefully a movement toward a better life for the Palestinians in Gaza. But to intervene this way is just offensive to one of our closest allies in the world, and I’m really disappointed that Chuck Schumer did it.”

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