Editing Levi Eshkol (section)

===Death and funeral===
[[File:Eshkol graves, Mt Herzl.jpg|thumb|Gravesite of Levi Eshkol and his wife Miriam at Mt Herzl, Jerusalem]]
In the year following the war, Eshkol's health gradually declined, although he remained in power. He suffered a heart attack on 3 February 1969 from which he recovered and gradually returned to his work, maintaining meetings from the Prime Minister's official residence. In the early morning of 26 February he suffered a fatal heart attack. At his side were his wife and three physicians, including [[Moshe Rachmilewitz]]. He died in office, at the age of 73.

Eshkol was laid to rest on 28 February at [[Mount Herzl]] and was the first prime minister interred at the [[Mount Herzl#Great Leaders of the Nation|Great Leaders of the Nation Plot]]. He was the first of either presidents and prime ministers of Israel to be buried at the plot, preceded only by [[Eliezer Kaplan]] and [[Yosef Sprinzak]].

Eshkol expressed his wishes to be buried at his Kibbutz, [[Deganya Bet]]. However, upon his passing a government meeting was convened in which the ministers expressed their support in his burial in Jerusalem. This decision was not only symbolic in its nature (following the [[Six-Day War]]), but also supported by the winter season and difficulty of performing a state funeral at the [[Jordan Valley]] as well as the [[War of Attrition]] and possible security risk at shelling aimed towards the Deganya Bet region. The government's offer was approved later that day by the Eshkol family. A second government meeting that day declared two days of national mourning, until after the state funeral. Flags across the country were brought to half mast.

Eshkol's body remained at the Prime Minister's residence in a symbolic [[lie in state]], with an honor guard of the [[Israeli Police]]. On 27 February at 6:00, he was moved to the [[Knesset]] plaza, open to the public passing before the casket. An official state ceremony attended by dignitaries and international delegates was held in the Knesset plaza on 28 February, prior to the funeral procession to Mount Herzl.