Yitzhak Rabin: So near, yet so far

Yitzhak Rabin, born in Jerusalem on March 1, 1922, was an Israeli statesman and military leader who played a significant role in shaping the history of Israel. He served as the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, holding office from 1974 to 1977 and again from 1992 until 1995.

He was given the nickname "Bonebreaker" during the First Intifada (1987-1993), when Rabin was Israel's Defence Minister. In response to the uprising, Rabin reportedly gave orders to soldiers to use "force, might, and beatings'.

Afterwards, he apparently shifted his stance. One of the defining moments of Rabin's political career was his famous speech on September 13, 1993, when he signed the Oslo Accords alongside Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The Oslo Accords aimed to establish a framework for peace between Israel and Palestine, outlining a plan for Palestinian self-governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In his speech, Rabin emphasised the need for compromise and reconciliation:

"We are destined to live together on the same soil, in the same land. We, the soldiers who have returned from battles stained with blood; we who have seen our relatives and friends killed before our eyes; we who have attended their funerals and cannot look into the eyes of their parents, we who have come from a land where parents bury their children, we who have fought against you, the Palestinians, we say to you today, in a loud and clear voice: enough of blood and tears. Enough!"

This historic speech marked a significant step towards peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and earned Rabin international recognition as a peacemaker.

Yitzhak Rabin's life was cut short while attending a peace rally in Tel Aviv on November 4, 1995.
He was killed by a Jewish extremist named Yigal Amir who shot him twice at close range. Amir remains in prison till today, unrepentant for the murder. Many Israelis regard him as a hero.

Current National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir famously has a framed picture of the assassin on the wall of his office.

Full transcript of Rabin's 1993 speech

Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton & Yasser Arafat.
Pic by Vince Musi

Jerusalem. Pic by Dariusz Kanclerz