As the peace summit in Annapolis draws near, leaders from across the Israeli political spectrum called to mind the legacy of the late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin to back their policies.
During the ceremony marking 12 years since Rabin’s assassination, Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu talked at length about Rabin’s support of an undivided Jerusalem.
Rabin was adamant about a unified Jerusalem, Netanyahu told dignitaries.
His comments were likely a response to remarks made recently by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, implying that some Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem did not have to be part of the Israeli capital.
Olmert talked about his concerns ahead of the talks in Annapolis but also of the importance of advancing the peace process. He recalled the difficult challenges that faced Rabin during the signing of the Oslo Accords and vowed to do all in his power to bring about peace “as Rabin believed and wanted.”
Ceremonies marking Rabin’s assassination took place throughout the country on Wednesday, the Hebrew anniversary of his murder.
This year’s anniversary was overshadowed by a heated public debate over whether Rabin’s assassin, Yigal Amir, should be released early from prison. Amir’s first child from his wife, Larissa Trimbobler, is due next month.
Amir’s family and supporters are launching a campaign for his early release.