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Yigal Amir's wife, Larisa Trimbobler outside Rimonim prison (Alon Ron)
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Last update - 17:51 04/11/2007
Protesters scuffle with supporters of Rabin's assassin outside jail
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
tags: Yigal Amir, Yitzhak Rabin 

Leftwing and rightwing activists scuffled Sunday outside the Rimonim Prison, where the killer of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin held his son's circumcision on the 12th anniversary of the assassination.

Members of the left-of-center Meretz party gathered outside the Rimonim penitentiary - where Yigal Amir is incarcerated for the 1995 killing - to protest the court's decision allowing him to hold the Jewish rite behind bars.

In response, rightwing extremists organized a counter-protest outside the jail's gates.
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"All these years they told us court decisions should be respected, and here comes along decision that isn't comfortable and they attack it," said Itamar Ben Gvir, a rightwing extremist, of the leftist protesters.

The child was named Yinon Eliya Shalom.

Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israelis must unite around the memory of Rabin's assassination and ensure that political murder of the sort never happen again.

"This is a glaring red line that no camp should be able to cross," Olmert told cabinet ministers during a weekly meeting, adding that November 4 would remain marked in the collective consciousness as a day of murder.

More than 150,000 people joined a Tel Aviv rally Saturday commemorating the 12th anniversary of the assassination of the former prime minister, according to the rally's organizers.

The annual event is held in Rabin Square, where the former prime minister was gunned down by ultra-nationalist Yigal Amir after a large peace demonstration on November 4, 1995.

At the cabinet meeting Sunday, Olmert also expressed solidarity with a speech given Saturday evening by the slain prime minister's son, Yuval Rabin, during the rally.

The younger Rabin told the crowd that the "murderer has assumed the roles of the prosecution, the judges and the executioner, and manipulates Israel's democracy."

The speech was in fierce criticism of a court decree last week allowing a circumcision service to take place for Yigal Amir's newborn son on Sunday afternoon - the anniversary of the assassination - in the Rimonim Prison.

Rabin also said during the rally: "It is inconceivable that the State Prosecution and the Attorney General would back such a decree, which turned the prison into a banqueting hall. A process that started with granting the assassin permission to marry, have a child and circumcise him, will end in a murderer on the loose."

The Prison Service said that the ceremony would small after the Tel Aviv District Court ordered the circumcision to be permitted within the prison walls.

The birth of Amir's son comes at a time of growing sympathy for commuting Amir's sentence. Right-wing extremists and Amir's family have launched a campaign to have him released from prison and a recent newspaper poll indicated about a quarter of Israelis, including almost half of religiously observant Jews, think Amir should be pardoned in 2015 after serving 20 years.

Regarding requests for Amir's clemency, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said during the rally, "His punishment won't be shortened and he won't be pardoned, and the gates of jail will be closed to him until his last days."

Clemency is the prerogative of Israel's president. President Shimon Peres, who was Rabin's foreign minister and just a few steps away when he was gunned down, has said Amir shouldn't be pardoned. On Saturday, Peres did not address the matter directly, instead encouraging the crowd to fulfill Rabin's legacy and push the path to peace.

"He is gone, but you are still here. You received his torch," Peres told the crowd, continuing, "Every step, every effort needs your support... Do as he did, worry about the next generation."

Barak: Immediate test ahead of us is Annapolis
During the rally, Barak called the youths among the massive crowd the "source of our strength." He lamented the inaction in 1995 by government officials, who failed to react appropriately to incitement to violence by religious extremists protesting against Rabin's peace efforts during the weeks leading up to the murder. Referencing Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, now minister of infrasture, Barak remembered a government meeting at the time, when, "Fuad Ben-Eliezer slammed on the table, saying 'this will end in murder.'"

On current efforts to renew the peace process with the Palestinians, Barak said, "The immediate test before us is Annapolis. Annapolis is an opportunity and not a threat, and I hope with all my heart it will succeed." Speaking to the fallen prime minister, the defense minister continued, "We will do everything in our hands to reach the peace you dreamed of and fell for."

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai also addressed the rally, which was hosted by Aharon Barnea.

Israel officially marked the 12th anniversary of Rabin's slaying last week, according to the Hebrew calendar. But the rally in Tel Aviv has become an annual pilgrimage for ordinary Israelis to show respect for the beloved leader.

Rabin's government negotiated the first interim peace accord with the Palestinians, and he won a Noble Peace Prize for his efforts.

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      1.   Wow! Time flies.... 20:19  |  Anastacia Dualla 03/11/07
      2.   Who cares! 20:26  |  Avraham 03/11/07
      3.   Rabin and his Oslo policy is the cause of all our problems today! 20:36  |  Miriam 03/11/07
      4.   Let him rest in peace..... 20:48  |  mn 03/11/07
      5.   Shimon Peres speaking about peace.... 20:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/11/07
      6.   Peace is A Delusion 20:58  |  Dave Levy 03/11/07
      7.   Oh yes ! 21:04  |  cfs 03/11/07
      8.   Fayad wants Israel to free 2,000 prisoners ahead of peace summit 21:15  |  Joseph E . 03/11/07
      9.   Rabin 21:20  |  Ralph 03/11/07
      10.   That means 6,850,000 of us aren`t there 21:28  |  Sharon 03/11/07
      11.   Barak Hopes Annapolis Will Succeed 21:32  |  MB 03/11/07
      12.   About Igal the killer of former PM Rabin 21:34  |  y 03/11/07
      13.   me again its 150 001 21:40  |  e 03/11/07
      14.   #2 Who cares? 21:43  |  Gil 03/11/07
      15.   A cracker of a speech 21:48  |  sh 03/11/07
      16.   IF THERE WERE ONLY 25000 PEOPLE THERE 21:54  |  WARRIOR 03/11/07
      17.   There are hundreds of questions to be answered about Rabin murder 21:58  |  Chaim 03/11/07
      18.   Did 150,000 ever blame Oswald 22:07  |  dave 03/11/07
      19.   Haaretz count=40,000 + left wing fudge factor 22:29  |  Teel El-Nabi 03/11/07
      20.   #2 Avraham tikfots li 22:49  |  avi 03/11/07
      21.   Annapolis will lead to what? 22:50  |  Vital 03/11/07
      22.   and the official count.... 22:54  |  Randy 03/11/07
      23.   Dont Look Back But look forward - to WHAT? 23:30  |  Dagma 03/11/07
      24.   An example of why there cannot be peace 23:31  |  Edifice 03/11/07
      25.   I Have the Right To Be Pissed Off 00:00  |  Joseph E . 04/11/07
      26.   amir`s sentence 00:11  |  justice-seeker 04/11/07
      27.   Rabin Rally 00:17  |  Mitnachelet 04/11/07
      28.   How do you know it`s been a long time ? 00:18  |  Dov 04/11/07
      29.   Rally 00:19  |  Settler Mom 04/11/07
      30.   #25 Joseph: Still better than dancing around Goldstein`s grave 01:23  |  Yariv 04/11/07
      31.   The Conspiracy 01:31  |  Craig J. Bolton 04/11/07
      32.   @5, swiss dino. i called now friend from TA 01:40  |  vladimir 04/11/07
      33.   #25 Who Really Stole the Land? 01:51  |  Double Click 04/11/07
      34.   There lies the problem 01:55  |  Angel 04/11/07
      35.   Rabin 12 year anniversary 02:08  |  Judah N. Wenkel 04/11/07
      36.   No assassination without conspiracy theory 02:25  |  Yossi 04/11/07
      37.   Swiss Dino 02:28  |  Danite 04/11/07
      38.   Definitely some kind of conspiracy 02:35  |  Issachar 04/11/07
      39.   #32 Hi Vladimir, we were speaking on the phone... 02:40  |  Your friend from TA 04/11/07
      40.   A totally irrelvent event - which will have no impact 02:41  |  S Judah 04/11/07
      41.   Is there any way Israel SUPREME court can be taken to an.... 02:56  |  Alon -Chiloni 04/11/07
      42.   Thank The SHABAK for the Good Turnout 02:58  |  Ben Israel 04/11/07
      43.   #Chaim. "There are Hundreds of unanswered questions..." 05:31  |  Maureen Ann 04/11/07
      44.   AND WHY ISN`T SHABAK AGENT A.ASKIN WHO MADE A TELEVISED PULSA 05:36  |  VOICE)))))))) 04/11/07
      45.   Where is rally for the 2,000 dead Jews because of Rabin follies? 05:37  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/11/07
      46.   Rabin brought a great calamity upon the Jewish people 05:51  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/11/07
      47.   By Picture only 70 thousand maybe 07:37  |  ralphsrant1 04/11/07
      48.   #26 - Justice Seeker 07:58  |  Naomi 04/11/07
      49.   Left Wing Pagentry & "Incitement" 08:36  |  Ken Jurist 04/11/07
      50.   To Edifice # 24 - Why there can NOT be peace? 08:38  |  Sandy 04/11/07
      51.   To Vladmir # 32 - You have been deceived! 08:43  |  Dolly 04/11/07
      52.   Fictional numbers, delusional dreams 08:44  |  Ilan 04/11/07
      53.   The Lesson to be Learned 08:46  |  Tzfonit 04/11/07
      54.   To Double Click # 33 Who Stole the Land? 09:04  |  Dagma 04/11/07
      55.   Double Click Post 54 Who Stole the Land you ask 09:44  |  Dolly 04/11/07
      56.   Ha`aretz slanted journalism 10:04  |  Yonatan 04/11/07
      57.   Instant heritage 10:23  |  Nora 04/11/07
      58.   0:42 Circumcision of Yigal Amir`s son set for 3 P.M. in Rimonim 11:23  |  Sandy 04/11/07
      59.   OLMERT IS A CRIMINAL THAT SJOULD BE BEHIND BARS!! 12:13  |  WARRIOR 04/11/07
      60.   Israelis must unite to OUST ulmart 12:14  |  Kobi 04/11/07
      61.   It all resembles 1937 in Moscow 13:07  |  Simply a Jew 04/11/07
      62.   @51, dolly and @39 friend 13:20  |  vladimir 04/11/07
      63.   Democracy awards assassins 13:24  |  Anton Siniora 04/11/07
      64.   National disgrace 12 years after Rabin?s assassination. 13:33  |  H.H.M 04/11/07
      65.   a national disgrace 150,000 nitwits parade 14:58  |  victor hardman 04/11/07
      66.   Vlacmir - AN OUTRIGHT LIE WHOEVER TOLD YOU..... 15:07  |  Dolly 04/11/07
      67.   #65 vic softindahead the NITWIT from the Galut 15:15  |  Ari ben Yisrael 04/11/07
      68.   All these scoundrels should have rallied in support of Sderot ins 15:16  |  Absolute Sweden 04/11/07
      69.   To Yonatan (Post No. 56) 15:19  |  Johnny Weintraub 04/11/07
      70.   What is wrong with this? 15:36  |  sam 04/11/07
      71.   Israel shouldn`t let arab murderers out of jail either.. 15:45  |  nm 04/11/07
      72.   Incredibly disgusting the privileges this monster receives 15:52  |  newagesblues 04/11/07
      73.   the use of the word"extermist" 15:54  |  fish 04/11/07
      74.   barak - is ahe a justice minister or president 16:06  |  fish 04/11/07
      75.   Amir`s bastard should never have been born 16:28  |  Eytan Leibovitz 04/11/07
      76.   Biased Haaretz uses the word right wing "extremists"... 16:43  |  Ohev Tsion 04/11/07
      77.   Amir.. a good for nothing 17:30  |  Ky 04/11/07
      78.   funny if extremist baby named Yitshak... 17:34</