109 HRES 535 IH: Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death. U.S. House of Representatives 2005-11-04 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 109th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 535 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 4, 2005 Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Ackerman, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Waxman, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin was born March 1, 1922, in Jerusalem; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin volunteered for the Palmach, the elite unit of the Haganah (predecessor of the Israeli Defense Forces), and served for 27 years, including during the 1948 War of Independence, the 1956 Suez War, and as Chief of Staff in the June 1967 Six Day War; Whereas in 1975, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the interim agreement with Egypt (Sinai II) which laid the groundwork for the 1979 Camp David Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin served as Ambassador to the United States from 1968–1973, Minister of Defense from 1984–1990, and Prime Minister from 1974–1977 and from 1992 until his assassination in 1995; Whereas on September 13, 1993, in Washington, D.C., Yitzhak Rabin signed the Declaration of Principles framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians; Whereas upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, Yitzhak Rabin said to the Palestinian people: We say to you today in a loud and clear voice: Enough of blood and tears. Enough! We harbor no hatred toward you. We have no desire for revenge. We, like you, are people who want to build a home, plant a tree, love, live side by side with you—in dignity, empathy, as human beings, as free men.; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin received the 1994 Nobel Prize for Peace for his vision and bravery as a peacemaker, saying at the time: There is only one radical means of sanctifying human lives. Not armored plating, or tanks, or planes, or concrete fortifications. The one radical solution is peace.; Whereas on October 26, 1994, Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan signed a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan; Whereas on November 4, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was brutally assassinated after attending a peace rally in Tel Aviv where his last words were: I have always believed that the majority of the people want peace, are prepared to take risks for peace . . . Peace is what the Jewish People aspire to.; and Whereas Yitzhak Rabin dedicated his life to the cause of peace and security for the state of Israel by defending his nation against all threats, including terrorism and undertaking courageous risks in the pursuit of peace: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors the historic role of Yitzhak Rabin for his distinguished service to the Israeli people and extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Yitzhak Rabin and the people of Israel on the tenth anniversary of his death; (2)recognizes and reiterates its continued support for the close ties and special relationship between the United States and Israel; (3)expresses its admiration for Yitzhak Rabin’s legacy and reaffirms its commitment to the process of building a just and lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors; (4)condemns any and all acts of terrorism; and (5)reaffirms unequivocally the sacred principle that democratic leaders and governments must be changed only by the democratically-expressed will of the people.