[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 174 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   YITZHAK RABIN: A SOLDIER FOR PEACE

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, today all Americans mourn the tragic death of 
Yitzhak Rabin, the Prime Minister of Israel. Every American has 
memories of this great world leader. We all remember this soldier, 
standing in the White House Rose Garden offering his hand as a 
peacemaker to Yasser Arafat, this soldier talking about the need to 
stop the killing, so their grandchildren may have a future.
  I have a personal memory, along with a number of other Members of 
Congress several years ago, being able to meet with Yitzhak Rabin 
before he was Prime Minister. I was struck then by a strong 
personality, and later I could see how it was that it was a soldier who 
led his nation in war who could also lead his nation and a region to 
peace.
  So we have a new memory as well in our grief. We also now have the 
memory of an Arab King standing before the casket of a slain Israeli 
leader. Perhaps there is hope, that hope only brought about because of 
the efforts of Prime Minister Rabin.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, if we can take anything out of this, as we have 
lost a world leader in the fight against extremism, let us remember we 
are each soldiers in that fight as well. Perhaps in a personal way, 
each unto ourselves, we can dedicate ourselves to fighting extremism 
and rooting it out wherever it is, not just in the Mideast, but 
wherever it is in our hearts, our lives, and our country. That may be 
the ultimate memory and testimony for Yitzhak Rabin.

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