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Rabin Family,
Mr. Speaker,
Distinguished Knesset,
There is no grown man or woman in this country who does not remember where they were or what they did on the night of the murder. We all stood frozen, stunned, at the bitter news – refusing at first to believe that such a crime could take place here.
And just like Job, we too wished that “that night be desolate”, but we do not have the right. On the contrary, that night must be remembered. We must remember what hatred, fanaticism and intolerance can breed.
Israeli society, despite the magnificent achievements it has made in its 58 years of existence – is still a society in formation. There are no shortcuts in the maturation process of a society which is, to a large extent, an immigrant society. The Israeli democracy is a genuine source of pride, but still it must confront threats emanating from the ongoing process of integration between cultures, denominations, factions and sectors – on all their diverse traditions.
Amos Oz wrote, “Democracy, of necessity, involves people’s right to be different from one another. The difference between people is not a fleeting evil, but a source of blessing – we are different from one another not because some of us have not yet seen the light, but because in this world there are lights and not one light: faiths and convictions, and not one faith or one conviction”.
Jewish tradition has always valued diversity. In Succoth a person does not fulfil his/her obligation until all Four Varieties are in his/her hand as a single bundle. In the Four Varieties each one is different – and the commandment is to bind them all together, not despite their diverseness, but because of it. Because of the mutual enrichment which diversity creates and because only in the “togetherness” can there be full representation to all segments of the nation.
Despite the great diversity in Israeli society, it has, in the past year, successfully withstood one of the most important and difficult tests in its history. Various forces tried to question the authority of our elected institutes – the Government and the Knesset – to make decisions and carry them out. These attempts did not succeed.
The apocalyptic prophecies regarding a civil war which would involve casualties – have all been refuted. And disobedience – an affliction which threatened to undermine the foundations of our democracy and endanger our unity – ultimately turned out to be marginal.
However, as in any campaign, yesterday’s achievement does not guarantee tomorrow’s victory, and the road to a mature society which resolves its internal disputes democratically is still long and challenging.
I often quote a statement made by Yitzhak Rabin in 1993 on the way to reaching this goal, and I quote: “even if we do not see eye to eye, even if there are disagreements – even if there are differences and nuances, it is good and important to argue, but also to grit our teeth, bite our lips and continue together, in order to reach our common goal, when the good of the country takes precedence over any personal or political consideration”.
The terrible murder of Yitzhak Rabin is a warning sign to us all, showing what might happen if we prefer that which divides and separates us over that which unites us and brings us together.
Beyond political disagreements, beyond the various viewpoints in Israeli society, beyond the differences of tradition and the variety of opinions – the decisive majority of the people of Israel is united in its love for this land and its loyalty to the State.
Therefore, I am confident that all components of Israeli society will be able to identify the goal, which is common to us all, beyond the sea of disagreements and the mosaic which comprises our society.
Thank you.
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