From The New York Times Obituaries:

Naomi Shemer

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli composer Naomi Shemer, one of the country's most beloved and prolific songwriters, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 74. Shemer wrote dozens of songs during a career that spanned more than half a century. Her most famous work was "Jerusalem of Gold," which Shemer wrote shortly before Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. "Jerusalem of Gold" quickly became a symbol of the military victory. The song continues to serve as an unofficial national anthem and is frequently heard on the radio and at national ceremonies. In 1983, Shemer was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for her contributions to Israeli music. Along with her original works, Shemer composed Hebrew versions of foreign verse. After Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, she translated "O Captain! My Captain!" by American poet Walt Whitman into Hebrew, set it to music and dedicated it to Rabin. Israel radio stations aired Shemer songs throughout the day Saturday, and Israeli leaders praised her accomplishments.