Israel marks 15th anniversary of Rabin's assassination

• Source: Xinhua
• [09:55 October 21 2010]
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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) stands with Israel's President Shimon Peres (C) and Speaker of the parliament Reuven Rivlin during a memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem marking the anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, October 20, 2010. 

In the months leading to the assassination, Israeli society was torn between Rabin's supporters, dubbed "the Peace Camp," and Israelis who rejected the peace accords as endangering Israel's security and its future. Stormy mass demonstrations calling for Rabin's demise were routine, with protesters holding up photo- shopped images of the premier in keffiyeh (traditional Arab head garb) emblazoned with "traitor."

Addressing a crowd of hundreds at Wednesday's ceremony, Netanyahu hailed the current-day unity of Israeli society, saying "today, we are not divided into two polarized camps in which every individual is convinced he is most justified and truthful."

"There is a lot less shouting, a lot less hostility. We listen to each other more, positions are coming closer together and the gaps are narrowing," Netanyahu said.

The event was also attended by President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi, Parliament Speaker Reuven Rivlin and Rabin's extended family.

Peres said that while the current peace process has also brought about differences of opinion within the Israeli public, they must be solved democratically.

"Peace can unite the people. I am convinced that the entire nation wants peace," Peres told the crowd.

This year's marking of the assassination was followed by critique that Rabin's legacy is gradually diminishing, especially among young Israelis born in the early 1990s. A member of the Israeli Parliament raised a storm in recent days when she said that perhaps the time has come to do away with the state memorial service since Rabin "represents depressing failure."

But on Tuesday night, as memorial events officially commenced, thousands of young people gathered at Tel Aviv Rabin Square to honor the man who dreamed of peace.