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Sternhell at ceremony marking 13th anniversary of Rabin assassination: We have learned nothing By Yair Ettinger Tags: Rabin, Sternhell, Israel News The surge in violence among the extreme right and at the illegal West Bank outposts was the central theme at the memorial for slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and his wife Leah in Jerusalem yesterday. Close to 100 friends, family, and past and present Labor Party members gathered at Mt. Herzl, where the nation's presidents and prime ministers are buried, for an unofficial ceremony marking the 13th 4 anniversary of the Rabin assassination. The official state ceremony, which will be attended by the country's leaders, will be held on the Hebrew date of Rabin's killing, the 11th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, which falls early next week. Advertisement "The next political murder is just around the corner," the first speaker, Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, warned. "The seeds of the calamity were sown in certain towns and bizarre Messianic circles in Judea and Samaria, but there are also outgrowths within the Green Line." Ben-Eliezer denounced the commercial television stations, Channels 2 and 10, for seeking to air a series of interviews with Rabin's murderer Yigal Amir last week. He called it part of the "reckless worship of the almighty ratings." 'Amir should rot in his cell' "[Amir] should rot in his cell," Ben-Eliezer continued. "He should have been living in prison with minimal luxuries - no radio, no television, no telephone, no newspaper, no letters, no family visits - but in the enlightened, progressive state of Israel, this sickening man was permitted to marry, to have conjugal visits and to impregnate her, and nobody opens his mouth and dares speak up ... He receives the full rights of a democracy, and laughs and makes a circus of the state of Israel ... How far can stupidity go? How far can foolishness go?" Professor Ze'ev Sternhell, who was wounded in September by a bomb planted outside his home, allegedly by extreme rightists, was invited to speak at the ceremony. He described Rabin as a man who tried to foment a revolution based on "the idea that the War of Independence is over once and for all, and that in this country live two nations, and both of them have rights to this land." In order to kill the idea, "they murdered the man," he said. Sternhell recalled a photograph that appeared just prior to the assassination, showing Rabin in an SS uniform, and added that to this day, some rightists liken Israel Defense Forces soldiers to Nazis. "This motif is alive and well, and at times it seems nothing has been learned and nothing has changed," he said. Sternhell cited statements made this week by West Bank rabbinic council head Dov Lior, who said the Federman's Farm outpost evacuation reminded him of his experiences during the Holocaust. The professor called the comparison "a forgery, evil, despicable, a disgrace." The former IDF chief of staff, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, mentioned that Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin had warned of another politically motivated assassination. He appealed to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was also at the ceremony, to "stop issuing warnings, and start doing something. Yitzhak (Rabin) would not have allowed [them] to break the arms of reserve officers. Under his watch this wouldn't happen. Not to reserve soldiers, not to Border Policemen. We have learned to complain, but we have not learned to do." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never walk alone It's safe to assume that Obama won't abandon Israel. Apprehensive in Israel Rightist MK Aryeh Eldad warns 'Israel should be wary of Barack Obama'   1.   Ha`aretz and the left just can`t get it right 15:49  |  Joe Sittizen 05/11/08   2.   Oaf Eliezer released mass murderer Yassin from prison but demands 16:34  |  Absolute Sweden 05/11/08   3.   Ben-Eliezer & Barghouti 16:35  |  Zvi 05/11/08   4.   Joe #1... the manner in which the evacuation was achieved.... 16:54  |  Esther 05/11/08   5.   Move Rabin`s Grave to Sderot - so Leftists can ENJOY his LEGACY 17:18  |  Jo 05/11/08   6.   Sternhell is anything but a peace activist 17:22  |  Avi 05/11/08   7.   Jo #5... somewhat incomprehensible... 18:09  |  Esther 05/11/08   8.   Are you lefties still squawking about the firecracker 18:19  |  Adam 05/11/08   9.   We will learn much from a real investigation into Rabin killing. 19:42  |  Chaim 05/11/08   10.   More Uberleftist Peace Fantasies from Comrade Sternhell 20:05  |  Ronny 05/11/08   11.   Where`s the proof? 20:37  |  Arie 05/11/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: For Republicans, 2 words of advice and comfort Responses: 244 Barack Obama: Change has come to America Responses: 139 Hamas vows to maintain truce, as 35 Qassams hit Negev Responses: 340 Editorial: U.S. election is example of democracy at its best Responses: 122 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again Responses: 82 More Headlines 01:43 Gaza gunman killed in IAF strike on Qassam squad 01:47 Obama kick-starts transition, picks Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff 01:53 Rightist MK: Israel should be wary of Barack Obama 20:10 Iran: Obama's victory proves 'failure of Bush's policies' 21:56 ANALYSIS / It's safe to assume that Obama won't abandon Israel 00:13 Close to end of term, Rice embarks on Mideast peacemaking trip 21:54 Openly gay Jewish candidate makes history with Colorado win 21:57 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again 14:56 ANALYSIS / Israel's dilemma: Obama vs. Qassams 15:02 Barack Obama wins 77 percent of Jewish vote, exit polls show 19:21 Golan residents launch PR offensive as Syria talks loom 15:49 Police trying to disperse East Jerusalem rioters in house demolition row Previous Editions Select Day 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct

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