Rabin blijft herinnerd als de leider die het vredesproces met de Palestijnen op gang bracht in de jaren '90, met de erkenning van de PLO van Arafat en van het Palestijnse streven naar onafhankelijkheid. Terwijl het voor de internationale gemeenschap toen al evident was dat het Oslo vredesproces om niets anders kon gaan dan een zelfstandige Palestijnse staat op basis van de grenzen van voor 1967, wilde Israel zich daar (nog) niet openlijk toe bekennen. Het is gissen in hoeverre dat Rabins overtuiging was en in hoeverre het zijn politieke inschatting was dat voor een echte Palestijnse staat nog te weinig draagvlak was bij het Israelische publiek. Tijdens 'Oslo' vonden de eerste series Palestijnse zelfmoordaanslagen door Hamas en co plaats, terwijl rechtse Israeli's Rabin voor verrader uitmaakten. Het was dus balanceren op een wankel koord voor de regering. Na vele decennia van totale afwijzing en terroristisch geweld was de erkenning van Israel door de PLO pas enkele jaren jong, en werd Arafat met gepast wantrouwen gevolgd, die voor eigen publiek helemaal niet sprak over een twee-staten-oplossing en vrede met de Joodse staat.
As for two state solution, Rabin told the Knesset in his last policy statement on October 5, 1995:
"We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority."
Het was - en blijft voorlopig - ondenkbaar dat die Palestijnse 'entiteit' bijvoorbeeld een eigen leger zou hebben dat voor Israel een reële bedreiging zou vormen.
De Palestijnen hadden wellicht een voorbeeld moeten nemen aan hoe Israel werd opgebouwd: decennialang was er geen sprake van een Joodse staat, maar van een 'nationaal thuis voor het Joodse volk'. Eerst werden de staatsinstituties opgebouwd, en toen die zich eenmaal hadden bewezen, was een staat de logische consequentie en werd deze ook door de internationale gemeenschap gesteund en geaccepteerd. (Nou ja, min of meer dan...)
Wouter
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PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
President Shimon Peres's Remarks at Candle Lighting Ceremony in Memory of Yitzhak Rabin
The President's Residence - 9.11.08
President Shimon Peres's Remarks at Candle Lighting Ceremony in Memory of Yitzhak Rabin
The President's Residence - 9.11.08
Rachel, Dalia, Yuval, the dear Rabin family,
Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Otniel Schneller,
Honored guests,
When the murder of Yitzhak became known, the streets of Israel were filled with young and old, women and infants, mothers and soldiers.
They could not stop the flow of tears, and with trembling hands they lit yahrzeit candles. The tears were tears of loss. The candles were candles of prayer.
The candle that we have lit here is another candle, to illuminate the path and the activities of a statesman and military leader of Israel. In it burns the democratic wick which will strengthen the flame of peace.
The tears will not evaporate. The lights will not be put out. And they will add to the call to all of us to pursue the goal of peace - this is the foundation for our future existence.
Yitzhak was murdered while ascending a steep path, on which we walked together in a meeting of minds, in order to speed the State of Israel to the realization of the dream of the people of Israel from generation to generation: peace for everybody and security for everyone.
Yitzhak walked a path full of harassers. Legitimate democratic criticism did not threaten him; however the arrows of incitement and the spears of hatred, wrapped in a lie of holiness, these which were aimed at him silenced his heart.
They aimed for the leader in order to stop the journey. A journey of values and a journey of purpose. Indeed, our story of independence. To leave the house of bondage in Egypt and not to create a house of masters in another place.
We have walked together in order to pave the road to the destination of peace. And as close as we have gotten to this goal, so too have the escarpments around us grown taller, and the voices that wish to instill fear have gotten louder. Curses, invective, and threats, and from time to time in the name of God, these became part of our lot, and particularly so for Yitzhak.
But he walked in the lead, with bravery and perseverance, without hesitation and without fear. He believed with all of his soul that we serve the greater national Zionist interest above all else, and from this feeling, from this belief he drew uncommon courage.
And then, tragically, at nearly the last bend before the summit, a murderer ambushed Yitzhak and fired at him bullets of death. All at once a dark cloud came down, encompassing the horizon. The way forward was lingered and obscured, but as we continued seeking, the clear path slowly, slowly became the path of the decisive majority of the people.
The strengthening of the acceptance of the two-state solution for two people living in peace and security, each to its own, is today accepted even by the majority of those who opposed it in the past.
The flame of hope that was dulled on the night of the awful murder was not extinguished and will not be extinguished.
It will light up the future of Israel as a just society and as a Jewish democratic state living in security with peace agreements, in friendship and mutual respect with all of its neighbors and with all of its citizens at home.
The flickering lights on the night of the murder were an expression of the love and respect that the masses of Israel felt for Yitzhak, for his path, and for his message of peace. The message that came from the good heart of the public was sharp and clear: don't let the darkness prevail, don't leave the truth die, don't let the mission lose its significance. The "Song of Peace" will be sung anew in the reality of peace.
Dear Rabin family,
Already thirteen years all of us, and particularly you, have borne the sadness and longing for Yitzhak the father and the grandfather, the head of the family, and for the beloved and devoted mother and grandmother Leah. To them you all were the most dear, intimate companions. Nobody but you can share in the pain, discomfort, and grief that you have felt.
I want to tell you from the depths of my heart, which was broken by the murder of Yitzhak, that I miss him every day, from the day he was placed in his grave to this very day.
The partnership, the understanding, the faith and the friendship that was formed between us at the end of the road I keep in my soul as an eternal conscience.
The "Light of Yitzhak" will not be extinguished and his light will mark the coming of peace.
May the memories of Yitzhak and Leah Rabin be for a blessing.
When the murder of Yitzhak became known, the streets of Israel were filled with young and old, women and infants, mothers and soldiers.
They could not stop the flow of tears, and with trembling hands they lit yahrzeit candles. The tears were tears of loss. The candles were candles of prayer.
The candle that we have lit here is another candle, to illuminate the path and the activities of a statesman and military leader of Israel. In it burns the democratic wick which will strengthen the flame of peace.
The tears will not evaporate. The lights will not be put out. And they will add to the call to all of us to pursue the goal of peace - this is the foundation for our future existence.
Yitzhak was murdered while ascending a steep path, on which we walked together in a meeting of minds, in order to speed the State of Israel to the realization of the dream of the people of Israel from generation to generation: peace for everybody and security for everyone.
Yitzhak walked a path full of harassers. Legitimate democratic criticism did not threaten him; however the arrows of incitement and the spears of hatred, wrapped in a lie of holiness, these which were aimed at him silenced his heart.
They aimed for the leader in order to stop the journey. A journey of values and a journey of purpose. Indeed, our story of independence. To leave the house of bondage in Egypt and not to create a house of masters in another place.
We have walked together in order to pave the road to the destination of peace. And as close as we have gotten to this goal, so too have the escarpments around us grown taller, and the voices that wish to instill fear have gotten louder. Curses, invective, and threats, and from time to time in the name of God, these became part of our lot, and particularly so for Yitzhak.
But he walked in the lead, with bravery and perseverance, without hesitation and without fear. He believed with all of his soul that we serve the greater national Zionist interest above all else, and from this feeling, from this belief he drew uncommon courage.
And then, tragically, at nearly the last bend before the summit, a murderer ambushed Yitzhak and fired at him bullets of death. All at once a dark cloud came down, encompassing the horizon. The way forward was lingered and obscured, but as we continued seeking, the clear path slowly, slowly became the path of the decisive majority of the people.
The strengthening of the acceptance of the two-state solution for two people living in peace and security, each to its own, is today accepted even by the majority of those who opposed it in the past.
The flame of hope that was dulled on the night of the awful murder was not extinguished and will not be extinguished.
It will light up the future of Israel as a just society and as a Jewish democratic state living in security with peace agreements, in friendship and mutual respect with all of its neighbors and with all of its citizens at home.
The flickering lights on the night of the murder were an expression of the love and respect that the masses of Israel felt for Yitzhak, for his path, and for his message of peace. The message that came from the good heart of the public was sharp and clear: don't let the darkness prevail, don't leave the truth die, don't let the mission lose its significance. The "Song of Peace" will be sung anew in the reality of peace.
Dear Rabin family,
Already thirteen years all of us, and particularly you, have borne the sadness and longing for Yitzhak the father and the grandfather, the head of the family, and for the beloved and devoted mother and grandmother Leah. To them you all were the most dear, intimate companions. Nobody but you can share in the pain, discomfort, and grief that you have felt.
I want to tell you from the depths of my heart, which was broken by the murder of Yitzhak, that I miss him every day, from the day he was placed in his grave to this very day.
The partnership, the understanding, the faith and the friendship that was formed between us at the end of the road I keep in my soul as an eternal conscience.
The "Light of Yitzhak" will not be extinguished and his light will mark the coming of peace.
May the memories of Yitzhak and Leah Rabin be for a blessing.
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