Bill Clinton remembers Yitzhak Rabin, his friend and partner - Haaretz

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Wed., November 07, 2007 Cheshvan 26, 5768

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		Former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin with former U.S. president Bill Clinton in 1992. (GPO)

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Bill Clinton remembers Yitzhak Rabin, his friend and partner

By William Jefferson Clinton

tags: Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton

Throughout history, human beings have found meaning in our lives through positive identification with what we know: our family, our tribe, our community, our nation, our culture, our politics, our religion - and by negative reference to "others."

In the 21st century, as our world grows increasingly interdependent, and local challenges and opportunities relate increasingly to the groups we once knew as "them," the walls that divide us are getting thinner, less important, and ever more transparent. We are compelled to expand the definition of who is "us," and shrink the definition of who is "them" to understand that, as important as our differences are, our common humanity matters more. The inability to embrace this fundamental value lies at the heart of peace and conflict throughout the world today, and of course in the Middle East.

Yitzhak Rabin understood this. My friend knew that the Middle East is highly interdependent, that there could be no final military victory: it would come only through peace and reconciliation based on our shared humanity. He worked tirelessly to forge a just, secure, and lasting peace with the Palestinians, and his ultimate sacrifice proved it.

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While the events of the last several years have delayed the dream for which Yitzhak Rabin sacrificed his life, they in no way undermine the logic of his vision, the power of his faith, or the beauty of his gifts to us. Since his life was taken, we have seen the resolution of seemingly intractable conflicts in other regions of the world. In each instance, the parties decided that their interdependence compelled them to lay down their arms and embrace a concept of security through dialogue and cooperation, based on respect for our interesting differences, and the possibility of cooperation rooted in shared values, shared benefits, and shared responsibilities.

No one was more committed to the security of Israel than Yitzhak Rabin. No one understood better that maintaining that security requires a resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians, and a commitment to share a peaceful future with them.

In this spirit, the words of the late King Hussein at Yitzhak Rabin's funeral resound as powerfully today as they did several years ago:

"Let us not keep silent. Let our voices raise high to speak of our commitment to peace for all times to come. And let us tell those who live in darkness, who are the enemies of life and true faith, this is where we stand. This is our camp."

We must remember and honor both Yitzhak Rabin and his mission. The future must belong not to those who live in darkness, but to those who stand with Yitzhak Rabin for life and peace.

This article also appears in Middle East Bulletin, a newsletter published by Middle East Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress. www.middleeastprogress.org. www.middleeastprogress.org

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1.	God Help Israel from the Clintons	00:02	\|	Tod Zuckerman	06/11/07

2.	Oh brother...words of comfort from a liar and cheater.	00:14	\|	stifffler	06/11/07

3.	Nice	00:35	\|	Belle	06/11/07

4.	"The Enemies of True Faith" says it all!	00:47	\|	Alicia	06/11/07

5.	Oslo Terror was A result of Israel`s Actions	00:50	\|	Meir	06/11/07

6.	feelgood genocide	00:55	\|	ron	06/11/07

7.	Appalled by Posters Here	00:56	\|	Jane	06/11/07

8.	shared values	00:58	\|	ron	06/11/07

9.	Peter SM	01:01	\|	Don Camillo	06/11/07

10.	Euh, Tod Zuckkerman...	01:42	\|	Mark B.	06/11/07

11.	By the way, if I read the posts of Tod Zuckerman....	01:44	\|	Swiss (Dino)	06/11/07

12.	1 & 2	01:52	\|	Philippe	06/11/07

13.	only the weak and hateful will shun these words. peace now!	01:54	\|	don	06/11/07

14.	They had no power	02:42	\|	mehmet	06/11/07

15.	#1 Tod Zuckerman, the natioalist	03:23	\|	Jim	06/11/07

16.	Mehmet # 14	03:44	\|	Philippe	06/11/07

17.	memory	04:39	\|	colin	06/11/07

18.	Ridicilous	04:47	\|	An american reader	06/11/07

19.	Bad Deal Bad Peace	06:22	\|	ralphsrant1	06/11/07

20.	"Peace" Agreements Result:: Thousands of Jews Maimed & MURDERED	06:28	\|	Linda Rivera	06/11/07

21.	Palestinian Authority Call for the MURDER of ALL JEWS & the	06:33	\|	Linda Rivera	06/11/07

22.	IF ISRAELIS LISTEN TO RABIN	06:36	\|	indrajaya	06/11/07

23.	The WICKED LIE of Occupation	06:38	\|	Linda Rivera	06/11/07

24.	The CRUEL Ignore Justice for One Million JEWISH REFUGEES	06:42	\|	Linda Rivera	06/11/07

25.	NEVER-Ending WAR: The Peace Process Explained	06:47	\|	Linda Rivera	06/11/07

26.	The "RABIN LEGACY" = 1,566 murdered Jews, loss of 30% of our land	06:54	\|	amir	06/11/07

27.	#1 Zuckerman is correct in his analysis	06:54	\|	amir	06/11/07

28.	#22 LOL	07:28	\|	Daniel Bleiberg	06/11/07

29.	where do you peace hating morons come from? i doubt it`s Israel	09:46	\|	paul	06/11/07

30.	this is the man who didnt know what sex meant	09:46	\|	victor hardman	06/11/07

31.	Why is it I am not given any credit to this joker? Can`t remember	10:15	\|	Moshe	06/11/07

32.	#29 paul invites terrorists to make israel a better place	10:17	\|	victor hardman	06/11/07

33.	To Linda Rivera	10:20	\|	Iraqi	06/11/07

34.	why Rabin and Clinton failed	10:20	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	06/11/07

35.	DCAMILLO.If there is nothing to hide what`s the problem?	10:36	\|	PETER S.M.	06/11/07

36.	Pres.Clinton also blamed Arafat for the breakdown of the talks.	10:40	\|	PETER S.M.	06/11/07

37.	# 34 Cipora Julianna Kohn	11:28	\|	Swiss (Dino)	06/11/07

38.	#37, Dino	11:52	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	06/11/07

39.	Clinton/Rabin	11:54	\|	Linda Baharier	06/11/07

40.	Iraqi #33 Re Linda Rivera	11:54	\|	GABE1	06/11/07

41.	SWIIS in fact outposts have been evacuated and stopped	12:34	\|	PETER S.M.	06/11/07

42.	HE NEEDS JEWISH MONEY FOR HIM AND WIFE	13:02	\|	JACKAL	06/11/07

43.	# 41 PETER SM	13:45	\|	Swiss (Dino)	06/11/07

44.	Hardman in far off Belfast-GALUT Wrong AGAIN	14:49	\|	Ari ben Yisrael	06/11/07

45.	clintons folly one female bush`s folly all of the world	15:29	\|	Petra	06/11/07

46.	#44ari and anew disney land in meitav	15:40	\|	victor hardman	06/11/07

47.	a truth....	17:02	\|	Tess	06/11/07

48.	Hey Todd #1	17:47	\|	Joel Bromberg	06/11/07

49.	#48 - Response to Joel	19:21	\|	Tod Zuckerman	06/11/07

50.	And does Clinton remember...	20:28	\|	Webster	06/11/07

51.	#22 AND THERE WOULD BE NO ISRAEL	20:33	\|	CLL	06/11/07

52.	SWISSQuotes"Washington Post, July 23 2004:" as current comment???	21:35	\|	PETER S.M.	06/11/07

53.	Jane, Bill Clinton may have been a great president, but	23:47	\|	Jake	06/11/07

54.	Bush`s wisdom on Slowman`s education	23:51	\|	Jefferson Clinton	06/11/07

55.	It takes TWO To Tango	00:33	\|	Ben	07/11/07

56.	conversation between Pres Clinton and Arafat	00:58	\|	David Israel	07/11/07

57.	A POX ON BEITAR! LONG LIVE THE CLINTONS!	01:34	\|	Haya	07/11/07

58.	Iraqi # 33	02:51	\|	Philippe	07/11/07

59.	Cipora Julianna Kohn # 34	02:54	\|	Philippe	07/11/07

60.	#52 Peter SM re Swiss Dino and latest on illegal outposts	03:00	\|	Labhras	07/11/07

61.	#52 Peter SM	03:06	\|	Labhras	07/11/07

62.	38 percent of the religious public view Yigal Amir as a hero.	03:19	\|	SImon	07/11/07

63.	Conservatives tried several times	04:10	\|	Mark Lincoln	07/11/07

64.	Bill Clinton remembers	04:41	\|	Carole	07/11/07

65.	LABHRAS as a matter of fact there has been movement on the issue	05:58	\|	PETER SM	07/11/07

66.	# 63, MARK LINCOLN	06:10	\|	indrajaya	07/11/07

67.	#57 DOWN WITH THE CLINTONS AND THE LEFTIST	06:42	\|	ralphsrant1	07/11/07

68.	Let`s Not Listen to Those who Want Peace	11:04	\|	Rob	07/11/07

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