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AMBASSADOR ZALMAN SHOVAL MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF YITZHAK RABIN OCTOBER 21, 1999

It has been four years, but the anger is still with us Ð as if it happened just yesterday. And no less so the bewilderment Ð not only that this terrible crime did occur, but that it could occur; in Israel, by one of our people. And I sometimes wonder if all the pertinent lessons have been learned even now.

What had happened to Israeli society?

And yet, perhaps even this darkest of clouds has a silver lining Ð a silver lining not devoid of tragic irony Ð but nevertheless, a silver lining Ð namely, that in the wake of the crime, Israeli society now seems to have become more tolerant Ð though not necessarily accepting each otherÕs views, and this isnÕt really required Ð but at least recognizing that in a democracy Ð especially in a situation where many of our neighbors still turn a watchful and sometimes hopeful eye to any sign of Israeli disunity Ð common ground must be found Ð unless we want to see the very ground under our feet quake.

That said, I sometimes feel that one may be doing an injustice to RabinÕs memory if one identifies his place in IsraelÕs historically exclusively with the Oslo Agreement, ignoring his many important achievements. After all, he himself didnÕt see everything through rose-tinted glasses Ð actually he was fully aware of the possible pitfalls in the path towards achieving peace and security. We shall never know now what he would have said or done in certain given situations. This must, tragically, be left in the realm of speculation.

What cannot, however, be left to speculation is his determination to try to achieve the goal he had set for himself.

Yitzhak Rabin belonged to that small and exceptionally distinguished generation of citizen-soldiers, soldier-statesmen, who put their indelible stamp on what Israel is all about. He played a major role in almost all areas in making the Israel Defense Force what it is Ð a military ethos without being militaristic; and ultimately paving IsraelÕs path to peace, real peace.

Lest we forget, it was Rabin who forged the tools which made victory in the Six-Day War possible Ð and later, playing an important role in achieving that victory.

RabinÕs contributions to Israel are part of history Ð those which he still might have made Ð will now never be written.

Thank you.