[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF YITZHAK RABIN

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 8, 1995

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow I rise to reflect a 
moment upon the loss of Israel's brilliant and devoted prime minister, 
Yitzhak Rabin.
  The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin was an unspeakable tragedy 
of worldwide proportions. Prime Minister Rabin was a statesman of the 
world and the genius of the Middle East peace plan. He dedicated his 
life to peace and in the end gave his life for peace. His contributions 
will never be forgotten.
  Prime Minister Rabin was a leader among leaders. He was a soldier, 
politician, statesman and peacemaker at various points throughout his 
career of public service. It was Yitzhak Rabin the general who captured 
Arab territories in 1967 and Yitzhak Rabin the peacemaker who in 1993 
shook hands with PLO leader Yasser Arafat and agreed to return much of 
that land in exchange for peace. To excel at any one of his callings 
alone could have been grounds for greatness. Instead, Prime Minister 
Rabin was a master of all his roles.
  Prime Minister Rabin's commitment to peace in the Middle East came 
from early experience with the absence of peace. Arabs began attacking 
Jewish settlements when he was a boy of seven. He was 14 when he was 
trained in the use of arms during the Arab riots and general strike of 
1936. In World War II, he served in the Allied forces. In 1945, he led 
a daring raid to free 200 Jews that is credited as the inspiration of 
the raid in the novel ``Exodus.'' He was said to be the inspiration for 
the novel's hero, Ari Ben Canaan.
  The world has lost Prime Minister Rabin, but the peace process in 
which he provided such exemplary leadership is still alive and is of 
critical importance to the entire world. We cannot permit his loss to 
destroy peace in the Middle East. Instead, the free world should do all 
it can for the Israelis and Palestinians to achieve that goal.
  While peace must be our primary goal, we must also be certain that 
those responsible for the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin are 
brought to justice. His murder is an affront not just to the Rabin 
family, to Israel or to Jews, but rather to everyone who believes in 
the ideals for which he stood.
  We cannot allow terrorists--terrorists of any religious or political 
persuasion--to rule the world. We must put our foot down and see that 
the peace process continues. We in the United States must offer moral 
leadership and do all we can to bring these parties together.

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