[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H11911-H11912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEATH OF YITZHAK RABIN A TRAGEDY FOR AMERICANS AS WELL AS ISRAELIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX. Mr. Speaker, the death of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak 
Rabin is a tragedy, not only for Israelis, but indeed for Americans and 
all those who strive for peace throughout the world.
  The United States and Israel are partners in world affairs. As 
partners, we have built a foundation based on years of mutual respect 
and trust. Together, we share risks, rewards and losses as we strive to 
make this world a better, safer place.
  One of the rewards came just a month ago when Israel and the 
Palestinians signed the second phase of the Oslo accord. That document 
was the direct result of the hard work and dedication to peace that was 
the hallmark of Prime Minister Rabin. Now, sadly, we must share the 
loss of having him taken from us so prematurely and so violently.
  In the long run, I believe those who resort to violence will find 
that it accomplishes little. Often, it spurs people on to completion of 
the task at hand--in this case, peace in the Middle East. Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. once said:

       The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a 
     descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to 
     destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it * * *

  Like others, I found the Prime Minister to be brilliant man whose 
compassionate nature was tempered by the fire of battle, tested by the 
trials of leadership and, ultimately, expanded by the promise of peace.
  Prime Minister Rabin spent his life strengthening the State of 
Israel. He fought heroically in Israel's war of independence in 1948 
and led Israel to victory in the Six-Day War in 1967. Yet despite his 
background on the battlefield, his vision of peace and security for 
Israel brought him to Washington 2 

[[Page H 11912]]
years ago to sign an historic accord with the Palestinians.
  On Monday, I was witness to the burial of a great statesman and a man 
of peace. But I was also struck by the fact that Yitzhak Rabin was a 
husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend to many. I share Leah 
Rabin's grief and was moved by the words of her granddaughter, Noa Ben 
Artiz. When she looked at Yitzhak Rabin, she did not see the warrior. 
She did not see the statesman. She did not see the world leader. She 
saw only her gentle and loving grandfather who, despite his busy 
schedule and the demands made on his time, always made time for his 
family.
  Accordingly, we must build upon the outstanding legacy of Yitzhak 
Rabin so that peace will be assured.

                          ____________________