Teddy Kollek

In 1942 Kollek was appointed the Jewish Agency's deputy head of intelligence. Between January 1945 and May 1946 he was the Agency's chief external liaison officer in Jerusalem and was in contact with MI5's main representative as well as members of British Military Intelligence.[6] In the 1940s, on behalf of the Jewish Agency (Sochnut) and as part of the "Hunting Season" or "Saison", Teddy Kollek was the Jewish Agency's contact person with the British Mandate MI5, providing information against right-wing Jewish underground groups Irgun and Lehi(known as "Stern Gang"). He succeeded Reuven Zaslani and preceded Zeev Sherf in this function, and was carrying out the Jewish Agency's policy of assisting the British in fighting these groups.[7] On 10 August 1945 he revealed to MI5 the location of a secret Irgun training camp near Binyamina. Twenty-seven Irgun members were arrested in the raid that followed.[6]

During World War II, Kollek tried to represent Jewish interests in Europe on behalf of the Jewish Agency.[8]

In 1947–48, he represented the Haganah in Washington, where he assisted in acquiring ammunition for Israel's then-fledgling army.[8]

Kollek was a key figure in creating an alliance between the Mossad and the CIA during the 1940s and 1950s.[9]

In the Six-Day War of 1967, East Jerusalem, which had been under Jordanian control since 1948, was captured by Israel. As mayor of a newly united Jerusalem, Kollek's approach toward the Arab inhabitants was governed by pragmatism. Within hours of the transfer of authority, he arranged for the provision of milk for Arab children. Some Israelis considered him pro-Arab.[11] Kollek advocated religious tolerance and made numerous efforts to reach out to the Arab community during his tenure. Muslims continued to have access to al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount for worship. While he was adamant that Jerusalem never be divided again and remain under Israeli sovereignty, he believed in concessions to reach a final settlement.[13]

Kollek's views on the annexation of East Jerusalem softened after leaving office.[14]

Teddy Stadium

Kollek dedicated himself to many cultural projects during his lengthy term in office,[15] and served as the founder and head of the Jerusalem Foundation,[11] through which he helped finance the projects. Kollek was also instrumental in the establishment of the Jerusalem Theater.[11]

Kollek's most notable cultural project was the development and expansion of the Israel Museum. From 1965–1996, he was president of the museum, and officially designated its founder in 2000. When the museum celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1990, Kollek was named "Avi Ha-muze'on" ("father of the museum").[15]

Through a leadership which spanned decades, Kollek raised millions of dollars from private donors for civic development projects and cultural programs. Kollek once remarked that Israel needed a strong army, but it also needed expressions of culture and civilization.[11]

Teddy the elephant at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, named in honor of Kollek.

Kollek was considered the "number-one friend"[16] of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, which occupied a 15-acre (61,000 m²) site[17] in Romema from 1950–1991. Though the zoo attracted many visitors to its exhibits of animals, reptiles and birds mentioned in the Bible and was successful in breeding and protecting endangered species,[18] it was considered small and inferior to zoos in Tel Aviv and Haifa.[19] Kollek promoted the idea of moving the zoo to a larger location and upgrading it to a state-of-the-art institution. Around 1990, under the auspices of the Jerusalem Foundation, the Tisch family of New York agreed to underwrite the expensive undertaking. The zoo re-opened as The Tisch Family Zoological Garden in Jerusalem on a 62-acre (250,000 m²) expanse near the neighborhood of Malha in 1993.[19] Kollek helped the zoo raise money to build the elephant enclosure and to bring in female elephants from Thailand at $50,000 apiece.[20] The zoo named its male elephant Teddy and one of its female elephants Tamar in honor of the mayor and his wife.[16] For Kollek's 90th birthday in 2001, the zoo feted him and the Jerusalem Foundation unveiled a new sculpture garden dedicated in his honor.[16]