Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 19/09 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 2 8. Oktober – 9. November 2009 1. Gedenken an Rabin Wie in jedem Jahr fanden auch in diesem November Gedenkfeierlichkeiten zur Erinnerung an den von einem Rechtsextremisten ermordeten israelischen Premierminister Yitzhak Rabin statt. Dazu zählen sowohl Veranstaltungen in der Knesset als auch eine große Demonstration in Tel Aviv, die jedes Jahr auf demselben Platz abgehalten wird, auf dem die tödlichen Schüsse 1995 im Rahmen einer großen Friedenskundgebung fielen. Das Gedenken wird jedoch gleichfalls in jedem Jahr kontrovers diskutiert. Während Stimmen aus der israelischen Rechten eine Verurteilung ihres ganzen Sektors beklagen, kritisiert die Linke, dass die Feierlich­keiten an Bedeutung verlieren, wenn sie auch Rabins heftigsten Gegnern eine Plattform bieten. In diesem Jahr hatte ein breites Spektrum von Politikern an der Kundgebung in Tel Aviv teilge­nommen, darunter Präsident Peres, die Oppo­sitionsführerin Zipi Livni, sowie Bildungsminister Gideon Sa’ar vom Likud. Where to? “During the Oslo years, the prime minister didn't lead, he was led. He didn't navigate, he was navigated. It was a cunning Palestinian leader and a sophisticated Israeli deputy defense minister who defined the great political revolution of 1993. In decisive moments that year, Yasser Arafat and Yossi Beilin maneuvered Rabin and got him to do what they wanted him to do.[…] But even though he was neither a saint nor a genius, Rabin was great. […] Rabin was great because during his second term as prime minister he realized the existential danger of occupation and decided to take action. The specific action he took- the Oslo process- was quite flawed. But the septuagenarian's willingness to foment change and take risks to extricate Israel from its troubles turned Rabin into a historic figure and role model.[…] Rabin's great insight was that the Jewish democratic state of today cannot choose the status quo. It has two options: getting out of the mud or sinking into it. This is an insight the current government must internalize. The time has come to know where we are going.” Ari Shavit, HAA 28.10.09 Rabin’s many successors “Some people would say that the despicable murderer, may his memory be cursed, succeeded in his mission. The fact is that the peace process with the Palestinians and with other Arab states is stuck, dying, and on the verge of breathing its last breath. So, did the murderer succeed? That’s nonsense. What used to be the almost exclusive doctrine of Yitzhak Rabin(in brave partnership with Shimon Peres) has become the anthem of almost everyone else, including Likud. Words like‘Palestinian state,’ which Rabin hesitated to utter publicly(and in fact never did) have become the repeated mantra of Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, and now, please welcome him with loud applause, Benjamin Netanyahu.[…] In fact, almost all Zionist parties have adopted the fundamentals of the agreement in principle signed in Oslo; each party did it in its own way. Yitzhak Rabin can indeed rest in peace – he has successors.” Eitan Haber, JED 29.10.09 Lessons from a great man “Fourteen years ago on this day, Israel was forever scarred. On November 4, 1995 prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, along with the hopes and dreams of many who yearned for a peace agreement. This moment was not only tragic because of the loss of an outstanding human being who took upon his shoulders the weight of Israel's hope for peace, but specifically because this murder was committed to put a halt to the Oslo process. 1