[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 157 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2481-E2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE LIFE, LEGACY, AND EXAMPLE OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER 
           YITZHAK RABIN ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2005

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
535, a resolution honoring the memory of former Israeli Prime Minister 
Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his assassination.
  Prime Minister Rabin served the people of Israel for two terms as 
Prime Minister, as well as previous roles as Ambassador to the United 
States, Minister of Defense and Member of the Knesset. Among his many 
accomplishments, it is his role as a visionary peacemaker which has 
ensured him a place of honor in history.
  Mr. Rabin began his career during Israel's War for Independence as a 
member of the Jewish Defense Forces. For the next 19 years, he held 
various positions in the Israeli Defense Forces, ending his tenure 
there as chief of staff. In this role, he was able to strengthen 
Israel's ties with the United States, fostering the special 
relationship which continues to benefit these two nations.
  Mr. Rabin also had a distinguished five-year tenure as Israeli 
ambassador to the United States. At the height of the Cold War, he 
encouraged Israel to stand strongly on the side of the United States. 
The relationship between the two countries blossomed in this period as

[[Page E2482]]

Israel established itself as a trustworthy ally in the Middle East.
  During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Rabin made remarkable 
progress in the Middle East peace movement. Teaming with former rival 
Shimon Peres, Mr. Rabin entered peace negotiations with then-Palestine 
Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat in 1993 in Oslo, Norway. 
Prime Minister Rabin, Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat all received the Nobel 
Peace Prize for their efforts.
  As a member of the Clinton Administration, I had the pleasure of 
witnessing the signing of these historical accords on the White House 
lawn. Meeting Prime Minister Rabin was an honor I will never forget, 
and his example continues to inspire me to this day.
  Prime Minister Rabin was revered by the Israeli citizens for his 
unwavering commitment to the peace process. Tragically, the life of 
this man of peace was cut short by an extremist gunman on November 4, 
1995. I would like to express my condolences to the family of Prime 
Minister Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for introducing this 
important resolution, and I urge my colleages to honor the memory of 
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

                          ____________________