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Last update - 09:36 29/10/2009
Obama sends Rabin memorial video, in bid to woo Israelis
By Barak Ravid, Yuval Azoulay, Jonathan Lis and Noah Kosharek
Tags: Yitzhak Rabin, Israel News 

U.S. President Barack Obama has videotaped a message to be shown Saturday night at the annual memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. The message will relate to the murdered prime minister's legacy and the need to advance the peace process. It was prepared in response to a request from Rabin's daughter, Dalia Rabin.

This is another step in Obama's attempt to speak directly to the Israeli public in light of the very low level of support he has among the Israeli public. Several polls over the past few months show the American president has won the support of only 6 percent to 10 percent of the Israeli public, with people saying Obama does not support Israel.

Obama's advisers are worried about his lack of popularity and the expressed feeling that he is hostile to Israel. They believe this seriously harms his ability to advance the peace process with the Palestinians. Obama's advisers see this as the reason why Israelis view his diplomatic initiatives on both Iran and the Palestinians so negatively.
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Recent weeks have seen a number of meetings on the matter in the White House, and one of the ideas under discussion is an Obama visit to Israel. It was decided at this stage to wait and send Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Jerusalem; she is to arrive Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the U.S. administration has started to increase the number of messages it is sending to the Israeli public on the peace process. For example, Obama published a New Year's greeting to the Jewish people for Rosh Hashanah, in which he spoke at length about his aspirations to advance the peace process. In addition, he sent a video recording to the President's Conference in Jerusalem, reiterating his commitment to Israel's security. Obama also released a special announcement a few days ago honoring the 15th anniversary of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty.

Clinton's visit is also part of the attempt to influence Israeli public opinion, in addition to her high-level talks in Jerusalem. Clinton is interested in being interviewed in the Israeli media to deliver the administration's messages on the Palestinian and Iranian issues.

She may hold a press conference during her visit. Members of special U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell's staff have also been trying to improve relations with Israel recently, holding their first press briefing before Mitchell's last visit to Israel. Mitchell recruited a new staff member to deal with public diplomacy with the Israelis and Palestinians on the peace process.

Remembrance tents

The events marking the 14 years since Rabin's murder opened yesterday around the country in 17 "remembrance tents" set up by the Noar Haoved Vehalomed youth movement. They include an exhibition on the incitement against Rabin before the assassination.

President Shimon Peres, Rabin family members, ministers, MKs and students from across the country participated yesterday afternoon in the memorial ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.

Rememberance events will continue today. This afternoon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior figures will participate in the official memorial ceremony for Yitzhak and Leah Rabin at their graves on Mount Herzl.

Shortly afterward, the Knesset will hold its special memorial session.

The main memorial ceremony will be the Rabin Square one Saturday night, on the site of the murder. Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni are expected to participate, as well as Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and numerous other politicians. A large number of artists will perform at the event, including Aviv Gefen, Ahinoam Nini, Miri Aloni, Rona Keinan and Miri Mesika.

"The years have passed and Israeli society is still facing serious violence that we never faced in the past, said Dalia Rabin, the chairwoman of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. She said it was particularly important this year to attend the ceremony and to remind everyone of her father's values and what he fought for.

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      1.   He needs to show he is committed to Israel--not blather about it 03:04  |  A Nice Fellow 29/10/09
      2.   Too little, too late. Obama has shown his true stripes... 03:04  |  flyingdoc57 29/10/09
      3.   White House slams Obama`s poor standing among Israelis 03:29  |  Bruce 29/10/09
      4.   Maybe there is a good reason for his poor standing 03:36  |  Born In The USA 29/10/09
      5.   So Obama should make the most of the 03:44  |  KenB 29/10/09
      6.   This could be fixed 03:44  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/09
      7.   In right wing Israel. Why would Obama`s support for Rabin 03:55  |  jim the mechanic 29/10/09
      8.   Is Obama the President of Israel? 03:56  |  Fed Up American 29/10/09
      9.   If the US only 04:00  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 29/10/09
      10.   Obama 04:02  |  wp 29/10/09
      11.   START BY APOLOGIZING FOR THE CAIRO GAFF 04:11  |  Brant 29/10/09
      12.   He needs to show that he is committed to America-not Israel. 04:12  |  arik 29/10/09
      13.   How naive of his advisors 04:15  |  Johnboy 29/10/09
      14.   Nice fellow in Montreal. Whats your view on Rabin? 04:19  |  jim the mechanic 29/10/09
      15.   POTUS should be committed to US, not Israel 04:21  |  A Real Fellow 29/10/09
      16.   WHO CARES? 04:24  |  EL 29/10/09
      17.   White House slams Israeli attitude toward Obama 04:28  |  Seymour 29/10/09
      18.   One mass response - when Obama`s face appears on the screen ... 04:32  |  IsraelSupporter 29/10/09
      19.   Israelis hate him because of settlements 04:33  |  David 29/10/09
      20.   Obama and Israeli Opinion 04:34  |  Irving Slott 29/10/09
      21.   Jews do not trust him because he has Islamic leanings 04:36  |  Siam Kerry 29/10/09
      22.   How can only between 6 - 10% public support Obama when... 04:37  |  Smadar 29/10/09
      23.   Obama White House, as usual, has it backwards 04:46  |  Raymond in DC 29/10/09
      24.   obama`s standing 04:47  |  mik 29/10/09
      25.   to worried about israel and NOT america 04:49  |  VIPER 29/10/09
      26.   remember "altalena"? wasn`t rabin`s hand in it? 04:57  |  TK 29/10/09
      27.   Who is Obama..... 05:02  |  Noam 29/10/09
      28.   Israeli public 05:29  |  Gandhi 29/10/09
      29.   Need he? 05:44  |  Mark Spitz 29/10/09
      30.   What Would Happen? 05:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/10/09
      31.   To be unpopular w/Israelis today is a good thing. 06:13  |  p. 29/10/09
      32.   the problem is, nice fellow... 06:24  |  eric 29/10/09
      33.   Obama`s low ratings 06:35  |  captain grumpy 29/10/09
      34.   Continually choosing the wrong gestures. 06:58  |  Jew 29/10/09
      35.   And just tell me why does he need to do that? 07:11  |  sam 29/10/09
      36.   Israel`s security has been Rabin`s most important message to us, 07:15  |  Eitan 29/10/09
      37.   only 6 percent to 10 percent of the Israeli public 07:25  |  binny 29/10/09
      38.   This condescending attitute of some Israelis... 07:40  |  Esther 29/10/09
      39.   3 Born - F-22 not Rain Proof 07:58  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/10/09
      40.   thinking ahead 07:58  |  tiki Belgium 29/10/09
      41.   Israelis don`t appreciate"friend"that squeezes for their own good 08:04  |  Sam 29/10/09
      42.   It`s Blazing Saddles Again! 08:06  |  Yosemite 29/10/09
      43.   generalisations 08:45  |  Jochai Rubinstein 29/10/09
      44.   #4 Obama is not the President of Israel 08:53  |  MarkF 29/10/09
      45.   Funny you all get to express your opinions on Israel and Israeli 09:01  |  Disgusted 29/10/09
      46.   Reminds me of the guy in the train giving his photo to the girl.. 09:24  |  S 29/10/09
      47.   Rabin is the symbol of hope. 09:31  |  Daniel Garcia. 29/10/09
      48.   Unfortunately Israels leaders have shown absolutely no..... 10:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/09
      49.   The photos of Rabin in Nazi Uniform 11:07  |  Samuel Fraenkel 29/10/09
      50.   Protecting its people and borders is Israel`s moral duty. 11:08  |  B. Gold 29/10/09
      51.   "Rabin`s legacy failed; Rabin caused a disaster." 11:20  |  B.Morris 29/10/09
      52.   To Raymond in DC 14:01  |  Jackie 29/10/09
      53.   Obama - Israel understands only actions not talk. 15:16  |  David 29/10/09
      54.   National interest 101 for Mark Lincoln 15:28  |  Jacob Blues 29/10/09
      55.   Obama is still hiding behind videos. He should visit. He did with 15:29  |  BBB 29/10/09
      56.   Mark of Lewiston shows us what they really think of Jews 15:34  |  Jacob Blues 29/10/09
      57.   Obama-Rabin 15:36  |  dee 29/10/09
      58.   "Rabin was a good man". 16:41  |  sandra chitayat 29/10/09
      59.   #31 Eric ---Human Rights & International law expert 16:42  |  A Nice Fellow 29/10/09
      60.   Last year Obama sent Union thug Jimmy Hoffas son to speak 16:49  |  d 29/10/09
      61.   Obama 16:57  |  Michael Schaefer 29/10/09
      62.   Yitzak Rabin memorial 17:34  |  Michael 29/10/09
      63.   `The message will relate to the ... prime minister`s legacy` 21:00  |  Joseph .E 29/10/09
      64.   to #8 22:22  |  sue 29/10/09
      65.   #55 22:25  |  Star 29/10/09
      66.   # 60 23:17  |  anne 29/10/09
      67.   Reading these comments and others 04:33  |  ghostoflutherblisset 30/10/09
      68.   # 59 nice fellow, i suggest you look at the numbers 06:36  |  eric 30/10/09
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