Assassination of Rabin – GA debate – Press release (excerpts)

SPEAKERS EXPRESS GREAT SHOCK OVER ASSASSINATION

OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER

Speakers in the General Assembly this morning expressed great shock and sadness over the tragic assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and praised him as a man who had dedicated his life to his country and to the cause of peace.

In a statement of tribute, Assembly President Freitas do Amaral (Portugal) said Mr. Rabin, as a soldier for much of his life, had experienced first hand the scourge and high cost of war. "As the leader of his country, in his wisdom, he chose to lead his people down the path towards lasting peace in the Middle East, and for this, he has made the ultimate sacrifice."

Following the observance of a moment of silence in tribute to the memory of the late Prime Minister of the State of Israel, speakers further stressed that the peace process must move forward with greater momentum in memory of Mr. Rabin for the sake of all peoples of the region and of the world.

The representative of the United States said that out of such tragic times must come a renewed determination to seize destiny and go forward on the path of peace. "We will not be daunted, we will not succumb to grief. We will pledge ourselves to work with even more determination to achieve peace in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world."

The Israeli representative said the bullet that had killed Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was meant to stop the courageous march towards peace for all people of the Middle East. Mr. Rabin said at his last speech at the peace rally in Tel Aviv, "I was a military man for 27 years. I fought so long as there was no chance for peace."

The representative stressed that Israel was fully committed to continuing its efforts for a comprehensive and lasting peace with all of its neighbours. It was the obligation of those in the international community and the Middle East to ensure that "an assassin's bullet will not halt our efforts to achieve what Prime Minister Rabin had so boldly set out to accomplish", he added.

Other statements in tribute were made by the representatives of Brunei Darussalem (on behalf of the Asian Group of States), South Africa (on behalf of the African Group), Albania (on behalf of the Eastern European Group), Bolivia (on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group) and Norway (on behalf of Western European and Other States). Individual expressions of condolence were also conveyed by Member States throughout the morning meeting.

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Tribute to Memory of Israeli Prime Minister Rabin

The Assembly President, FREITAS DO AMARAL (Portugal), began the meeting by paying tribute to the memory of the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin. Mr. Rabin, as a soldier for his country for much of his life, had experienced first hand the scourge and high cost of war. "As the leader of his country, in his wisdom, he chose to lead his people down the path towards lasting peace in the Middle East, and for this, he has made the ultimate sacrifice."

Only two weeks ago, Mr. Rabin had reaffirmed his commitment to the course of peace in the Assembly Hall, recalled the President. "Today, as he is being buried, I have the very sad duty to extend, on behalf of the General Assembly, our deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Israel and to the bereaved family in their tragic loss. It is our fervent hope that his life would not have been sacrificed in vain and that the international community and peoples of the world would be inspired by Mr. Rabin to abandon war and violence and to embrace peace."

The Assembly then observed a moment of silence in tribute to the memory of the late Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

PENGIRAN ABDUL MOMIN (Brunei Darussalam), speaking on behalf of the Asian Group, said he had the honour to join his colleagues in expressing the Asian Group's most profound sympathy and condolences to the family of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and to the people of Israel. It was sad to witness, once again, a leader of such courage becoming a victim of violence which had so long been witnessed in the Middle East. Prime Minister Rabin's "untimely death should be a reminder to all concerned of the urgency to achieve comprehensive peace in the troubled region".

KHIPHUSIZI J. JELE (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the African States, said they were deeply shocked and saddened by the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin over the past weekend. They condemned in the strongest terms this criminal act, which must have been committed by someone who had no interest in the future of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The African States urged all those involved in the peace process not to be deterred by the tragic incident but to draw strength from the example of Rabin's leadership. He offered condolences to Rabin's family and the people of Israel.

PELLUMB KULLA (Albania), speaking on behalf of the Eastern European States, expressed deep sorrow for the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin. He extended condolences to all peace-loving people of the region who saw in Mr. Rabin a promoter of the peace process which was of paramount importance to the Middle East and to the whole world. The unexpected and tragic loss of Mr. Rabin constituted a sacrifice — the high price of prevailing over hatred.

The attack was not only against Mr. Rabin but also against the large gathering of people which he had been addressing who were expressing the hope for peace of millions of Jews and others. However bitter the loss in the long path of peace, the peace process must continue. Contrary to the aim of the hand that killed him, Prime Minister Rabin would bring a new impetus to those who would seek to achieve peace.

EDGAR CAMACHO OMISTE (Bolivia), speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States, expressed his sorrow over the death of the Prime Minister. The assassination deprived the international community of a leader committed to the cause of peace. The circumstances made clear the existence of forces opposed to peace and solidarity. Yitzhak Rabin embodied the search for means of reconciliation in order to find solutions to the situation in the Middle East.

HANS JACOB BIORN LIAN (Norway), speaking on behalf of the Western European and other States, said they were deeply shocked and profoundly saddened at the news of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. "All condemn this despicable act of violence." Mr. Rabin had shown great courage and determination in his search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, for which work and courage he had, only a year ago, received the Nobel Peace Prize. It was his legacy and the world's responsibility to keep working to achieve the peace he sought.

EDWARD W. GNEHM (United States) said history would record Prime Minister Rabin as one of the towering figures of the century. He had dedicated his life to Israel, its security and the cause of peace. "Heroic in war and in the service of his country, he pursued peace with the same courage and determination." The world had lost a great statesman, and it was fitting that the Assembly, which was dedicated to peace, should mourn. "Israel has lost one of its finest sons. The United States has lost a strong and true friend."

He went on to say that out of such tragic times must come a renewed determination to seize destiny and go forward on the path of peace. "We will not be daunted, we will not succumb to grief. We will pledge ourselves to work with even more determination to achieve peace in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world." He paid tribute to Mr. Rabin, quoting from Beatitudes, "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God".

DAVID PELEG (Israel) said his country deeply appreciated the warms words of condolence and sympathy expressed this morning. November 4th 1995 was a day that would live in the memory of Israel, its neighbours and the international community forever — the day an assassin's bullet killed the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin. The bullet, however, was not meant for the man himself, but was an attempt to stop the courageous march towards peace for all people of the Middle East. Mr. Rabin himself had said at his last speech at the peace rally in Tel Aviv, "I was a military man for 27 years. I fought so long as there was no chance for peace".

The Government of Israel was fully committed to continuing its efforts for a comprehensive and lasting peace with all of its neighbours. It was the obligation of those in the international community and the Middle East to ensure that Mr. Rabin's vision would not be lost. "An assassin's bullet will not halt our efforts to achieve what Prime Minister Rabin had so boldly set out to accomplish", said Mr. Peleg.

The Prime Minister himself had said, in his speech to the General Assembly on 24 October 1995, that the road to peace was still long. He went on to say, "we are determined to continue until we have brought peace to the region, for our children and our children's children and for the peoples of the region. This is our mission. We will fulfil it."

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