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Last update - 02:44 13/11/2008 A political asset in Rabin Square By Israel Harel Tags: Yitzhak Rabin, Israel News Here is something else we have Barack Obama to thank for: Because the entire Israeli political establishment and media were completely caught up in in his election, there were fewer days dedicated to the traditional incitement campaign at the beginning of November. The right wing, and in particular the settlers, were able to put off a trip to the shelters for a few days. But that was only a small consolation. The loud voices of incitement, like at the so-called state official ceremony at Rabin Square - after all, the left is the sovereign, the state - were no less strident this year than the ones I remember from last year. Ehud Barak and the rest of the unbridled accusers harnessed the official rally, which the state paid for, to spread poison, hate and incitement, which harmed Rabin's legacy and the man whose memory the event was supposed to honor. Every year the accusations are repeated and flung around: The lessons have not been learned. They come from the Rabin family and people who instead of drawing real conclusions from the tragedy fan the flames of the dispute - so the fire will never go out and they can reap political gains for generations. Advertisement And so for the 13 years since the murder of Yitzhak Rabin, those making political gain, or those who think that since the murder the right needs to be in a constant state of apology and repentance, have not learned a thing. If they truly wanted to honor Rabin's memory, they would have made do with a single main event, on the date set by law. But since that was not the goal of the organizers of the drawn-out events, the memorial days have turned into ones of impassioned rhetoric that only deepen the divisions already far too wide. There is a possibility that the slanderers do not intend for their words spoken at the events to lead to a positive lesson; one, for example, likely to spur reconciliation between different parts of the nation. As far as they are concerned, true reconciliation - which is possible based on the deep wishes of most of the people - could lose them a political asset of huge emotional impact, which as a result of the constant blackening of the opponent's name could bring political achievements on election day. Memorial assemblies also provide a platform for the shameless, who blame others for their own personal responsibility for the tragedies the "peace process" has brought on us. Some people had prophesized that the process would not bring peace, but death, the deepening of hatred between Arabs and Jews and the deterioration of Israel's status around the world. These results of the peace process were already obvious to most of the public on November 3, 1995. Opinion polls showed that Benjamin Netanyahu, who said some of these things, was leading Rabin by a wide margin. Even Rabin himself, according to people willing to speak the truth who talked to him at the time, was not far from deciding - in light of the horrible terror attacks - to break off with his "partner," Yasser Arafat. But the murderer put an end to the process of Rabin's awakening from the Oslo delusion. Anyone who fears to draw true conclusions, anyone who wanted to continue to deceive the people, clings to the murder to continue the stupidity. And that is how Rabin's murder has led indirectly to the murder of hundreds of Jews, which would have been prevented if only Rabin had lived and had found the courage to halt the process of deception known as Oslo. Or another possible alternative: If Rabin had not broken with Oslo and Arafat and had campaigned for reelection while terror was continuing, he would have, as the polls predicted, lost to Netanyahu. These are also things that do not need to be said at memorial ceremonies. The events were intended to commune with the memory of Rabin so that anyone disgusted by murderer Yigal Amir's act could find a place, whether in the square or at the cemetery. Today, as a result of the patronizing and insensitive behavior of those who have drawn no personal or national lessons from the murder, a large portion of the nation finds itself alienated - and avoids following even the media on the memorial day. Meanwhile, those who are causing the alienation continue not only their unrestrained incitement against a part of their own people, but also the process of conciliation with our enemies continuing in Arafat's path. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Taped launch IDF releases video of Gaza gunners firing rockets at Israel. GA, Jerusalem UJC General Assembly opens, organizers expect 'success.'   1.   Tar N` Feather the bloke for he speaks the truth 12:30  |  Shlomo 13/11/08   2.   Thank you Israel Harel. 15:16  |  Matt C 13/11/08   3.   The fact remains, Israel Harel.... 18:27  |  Esther 13/11/08   4.   Distortion (2nd post -Y Not the 1st one?) 20:29  |  Ussishkin 13/11/08

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