Yitzhak Rabin Knew What Netanyahu Doesn’t
Thirty years after the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israel continues to overlook the lessons taught by one of its most honest leaders.
Rabin’s Legacy and the Assassination
On November 4, 1995, Rabin was fatally shot by a far-right extremist during a peace rally in Tel Aviv. As a Middle East envoy working closely with him, I witnessed firsthand his intellectual honesty and commitment to peace.
A Vision Ignored
Rabin understood something his successor fails to grasp: neglecting Palestinian concerns ultimately harms Israel’s own security. He was a rare statesman who believed Israel could pursue its interests while addressing the Palestinian cause simultaneously.
The Courage to Admit Mistakes
Once Rabin made a decision, he stood firm but was willing to acknowledge when he was wrong. I recall his visit to Washington in December 1988, when he initially believed Israel’s military could quickly suppress a Palestinian uprising. I disagreed, cautioning that Palestinian grievances wouldn’t simply disappear. Later, Rabin admitted I had been right.
"He had come to understand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had no military solution—only a political one."
Assassination Motivated by Peace Efforts
Rabin was killed because of his peace initiatives, which his assassin could not accept. His death marked a tragic interruption in Israel’s pursuit of political solutions to the conflict.
Author’s summary: Yitzhak Rabin’s rare honesty and vision for peace showed that ignoring Palestinian concerns undermines Israel’s security, a lesson still missed today.