ANALYSIS: Rabin memorial offers pop stars and empty cliches

So then it is suiting that that is what his memorial is

Today, all we can feel is sadness, all we can think of are the dead, blown up in terrorist attacks, as the consequence of the P&R-"peace"-deal with Arafat, future looks hopeless and Israel seems to fade away. Since 1993 Israelis have been living in a never-ending depressive mood, a black cloud hanging over Israel making them an angry nation, which has fed prejudices and increased anti-Israel feelings in the world. For the politicians to ask Israelis to remember Rabin as "a great man of peace" against this prevailing reality is dishonest. It would show integrity of the Israeli politicians to admit that the peace-deal was a Mistake and the need to change this self-destructive course and look for more realistic means to deal with the Pal-Arabs than giving them a state, when they have proved a terrorist-attack after a terrorist-attack not to be mature and civil enough to deserve nor to handle.

learn to live together. if we only met with the other then we would all see that we are the same human beings.there is no need to fight.we must all be nice to each other. yuck.

in a word the european economy is thriving so they can afford to be liberal.the 20 million european muslims in that continent will slowly and increasingly pressure that righteous garb the europeans love to display much as they love to wear armani and dior.

europeans the europeans would show their teeth as they did in 1939-45.

and minarets in switzerland yet he comes here to patronise and lecture us.

ask dino to explain swiss bigotry and he comes back to you with cute stories about swiss prisons as holiday resorts.

has transpired by the majority of Israelis and the Jewish community-at-large to be continually critical of ineffective policies culminating in the complexities we're in - increase in building settlements, uncompromising governments with regards to the Palestinian conflict, etc. Rallies with celebirties are not enough to pressure governments to change. It's a valid point when Gideon Levy questions why at a peace rally the majority attending/supporting Israelis are predominantly "self-described Ashkenazi, secular, leftists and peace-loving"? The citizenry of Israel is not represented by them only, so it's troubling that the voices of peace are not heard by the religious, the Mizrahim, etc. in larger numbers. Where are they? PS. Fox, just to let you know that when I was in Israel, Gideon Levy was a household name - quite known.

is not the point. you have voted into government in switzerland right wing racists and yet you lecture us.your hypocrisy is the issue.smells terribly.

Sh, I fully agree with you. But the Tango-partner Abbas doesn't look too "ugly", does he...??? So no reason (and excuse) for Israel to give him a refusal. You will never get a "prettier" one...:)

Hi Tobi, honestly, I haven't heard lately about an "Exodus" of immigrants out of Switzerland. So things don't seem to be too bad. Or maybe you are more "up to date"...??? By the way, some immigrants stated to the press that they were only commiting (minor) crimes in order to enjoy a good meal and a nice sleep in one of our hotel-style prisons. I wonder, would they say the same after having spent a week in an Israeli prison...??? Honestly, I don't think so, at least if their name is not Yigal Amir....:)

Your hubris and your arrogance are both beyond bounds. We have not asked you and would not elect you. You display no ability or talent to 'lead' us or 'show' us. Prove it if you are a leader. Give all your talents to your own countrymen. They might appreciate you better and you might have more right to tell them what to do and more knowledge to base it on.

the idiocy of oslo and its aftermath! no speeches from peres the other half of the stupid team !

Hey PoliGuy, whatever that may mean, and wherever you may be writing from, Nope, nobody is forcing me to read what Mr. Levy writes. Nor do I have to, this is correct, nor is anybody forcing you to read his article, it is both your choice and mine. whereas your posts seems to insinuate that one has to only read what they agree with, my philosophy is different. I read Levy to hear what my enemy is saying. It is also a good look without surgery into the workings of the Armani Left brain. I have always been amused and disgusted by these yellow jounalists, who claim to be intellectuals, who in the end are the first to censor and the last with any legitimate claims to reality. As for me being "the FIRST" (your capitals) to read his articles, I doubt that I am the first, and as for "not getting his message" there is a difference between tasting and digesting them. Levy is one sided to the point of being a circus act. I respect his "right" to write, not what he writes!

The only positive news I read in loony Gideon's article was that Yigal's son was to be circumcised at his prison so he could witness it. I think thats wonderful and a testimony to Israel's civility. Mazel Tov Yigal! If General Rabin could say so in heaven he would also with Yigal Mazel tov because I believe at the time of Rabin's death he knew he sold his soul to the devil when he shook Arafat's slimy hand on the White house lawn. It was that day that Rabin forfeited his life.

Rabin is dead and you know what who cares? Life goes on, Israel goes on (better actually) and the Jewish people go on. Unfortunately, Israel's enemies many of which were armed by Rabin are going on to and Israel must pick of the pieces from Rabin's grave mistakes. Gideon Levy is caricature of himself by now. He is always bitter, wrong, ignorant, whining, and judging someone or other. He is always wrong and in truth he is a joke. I hope he finds himself funny or does he think people respect him as a Journalist? Nah, even Old Gideon is not that gullible, or is he?

"the Israeli Left often seems to be willing to "talk the talk", but not to "walk the walk"." Talking the talk is the first step, the next step turns out to be not so much to walk the walk as to tango, Swiss. And that, as you know, takes two. But we'll get there.

Cannot cope if reality does not match the slogans.

The only thing that Gideon does not understand about the Ashkenazi, secular, leftist and peace-loving as he puts it, is that nothing has changed between now and then. This same group is only interested, and was only interested in the individual and has no national aspirations. Essentially thats what you get when you belong to nothing and then cling on to this concept called Peace as if you are the only one who "really" wants it.

"Yes once again, the prophet of Hate was not invited to speak, dance or sing. Nor was he quoted, nor did anybody carry a banner with his lovely photo blazened upon it." And who FORCED you to read this article? Many readers are VERY interested to read what Mr. Levy has to say! You, and others like you, keep claiming that Mr. Levy is this and that, but you are the FIRST to read what he has to say. YOU simply don't like the message that he brings you!

"Gideon Levy never has anything good to say about anything,cwhether it be politics or TV shows." But you did put everything aside in order to read what Mr. Levy has to say, didn't you? I can only conclude that (1) You care about what Mr. Levy has to say, but you don't like the message that he brings you. Or (2) You really like to waste your time reading useless articles. Can you tell us which is the right conclusion?

You get some kind of satisfaction of your comments? Any other reason to be happy in your life? I wonder...You know, the bitterness normally rotten only peoples own soul...

How many people would show up if there were just speeches and no singers. A nice time was had by all.

tell us they rather uncomfortable and afraid in your country. that advertisment showing three white sheep on a swiss flag kicking out a black one out of switzerland did not help i assume.

so why are you lecturing us already?

to keep you in business for a long while.there is no need for details.you know exactly what i mean.so what then swiss dino?just a normal hypocrite?

Nemesis, as long as I can show (lead) you a way into a better future, I am proud to be called a "trouble-maker". Only serving your (very) best interests....:)

"The audience was, as always, the same: self-described Ashkenazi, secular, leftist and peace-loving." Gideon Levy, I wish you and others would revise and update such out-dated definitions. My grandchildren who were at the kikar are Sabras whose lineage is quarter pure-Sfaradi, quarter Anglo-saxon, quarter Yemenite and quarter Polish. Not sure which of the genes prevail politically...

Like many old radicals, Levy has officially joined the curmudgeons who have been left behind (pun intended)by proof that all they believe in is esentially bullshit. I expect Levy would prefer the one-state solution being championed from the stage at Rabin Square but alas Zionism lives and radical Islam is on the decline.

The left and the showbiz. Behind nice faces and voices, there is nothing, no idea, no brain..... A propos, Mazal Tov, Ygal.

We do not have to see any shows of his, if he was any more understood & `visible`, he would have been literally `jumping from his pages into our living rooms`. We also have plenty of such English material of our own malicious `fantacising moralists` around. You should see or hear how they try do destroy America daily. But their `cumbayas` are hollow. They only look `innocent` & can deceive to a certain point, after which the reality always `explodes` it. For example, Levy`s ideology & malicious anti-Israeli preaching at certain point will always collide with & break at the `Arab world behavior & true desires towards Israel` wall. He will `insist` on the new anti-Israeli spin, to defend `realisitc failure` & continue with his own ideological marry ways, ethernally. We will both overcome our respective Levys.

Of course any smart politicians won't mention "yigal amir" when they know that he did not murder and it is just a matter of time till the whole story "breaks."

The world is definitely against you. I'm coming to get you next week. (Tuesday)

Once again Gideon lays vanquished pierced by his own sword of illusion & sense of self-importance. Yes once again, the prophet of Hate was not invited to speak, dance or sing. Nor was he quoted, nor did anybody carry a banner with his lovely photo blazened upon it. No, Levy is practically a non-entity in Israel, his words scoffed at and deemed pathetic. Certainly it is true that he is loved and praised by those who hate Israel in Europe. He is also celebrated on many an anti-Zionist and anti-semitic website, where his articles and musings find prominence. Sorry Gideon but this was a gathering not meant to spark violent revoltuion, nor an orange movement to throw out the government. This is a time of collective prayer, ritual and symbolism. As many a speaker related, it is not a time for "Fanatics" such a yourself. I suggest you get your PR people into action, and finagle a way onto the stage next year. Who knows, they may even let you carry the Palestinian flag!

we all must stop commenting levy. it is useless. once nobody will comment him and share opinions, this guy will be jobless. whatever happens here, even if the meteorological man will announce sun, he will find clouds. we are all stupid to read him and then send response. please all of us, let's stop for ever

Gideon Levy never has anything good to say about anything,cwhether it be politics or TV shows. Too bad Ha'aretz doesn't publish English translations of Levy's TV reviews. Then you would all get a balanced idea of this man's small-mindedness and evil nature.

....when it comes to certain Israeli "tactics", which are regarded as appalling by the rest of the world, the Israeli Left often seems to be willing to "talk the talk", but not to "walk the walk". Which leaves the (probably unfair) impression abroad, that they are just serving as a fig-leaf in order to calm the once in a while bad Israeli conscience.... Still, Levy would be well advised to focus his criticsm on the real "trouble-makers"....

you hate Israel, or is your hatred of Israel the reason you were kicked out of the course?

The killing and most deaths wouldn't even happen if the public protested strongly enough to remove Rabin from power immediately after the first bus explosion. In the root of the problem lies the indifference of most people&goverment at the time to the value of human life.

While devoting considerable time to the murderer, which is a regrettable tendency at the moment, Yigal Rabin also called for unity under the present leadership so that something positive comes out of Annapolis. Didn't you notice, Gideon? Stranger still, he turned out to be a better speaker than most of the others on the podium and, with his toneless, focused delivery, he sounded uncannily like his father. What has become more cliched, the memorial or Gideon's gripes?

The rally was a celebration of the life and legacy of Rabin and a gathering of people who have hope for the future of this country. If you are against a gathering like this there is no hope for you.

Both are unacceptable in the end. Rabin allowed killing of civilians as part of his vision. So he is nothing and doesn't deserve any memory. Amir is an executioner, however the execution had been justified it is impossible to accept one human being killing another. It is indeed symbolical the Rabin's son ended permanently living in US, it may well be the case with the Amir's son as well, the total indifference. What is only real are those innocent killed during the Rabin rule.

You miss the point habibi: The fact that 150,000 people turned up on saturday evening, shows that Israel society at large is sick and tired of violence and racialism and extremism. The content of the show and the usual empty rhetoric of politicians and niave public personalities was not the reason for being there.

for his treason and crimes against the Jewish people. The way to hell is paved with good intentions.

Gideon Levy has a lot of criticism, but strangly, no suggestions for improvement. That's the easy way out.

It,s just an excuse for a party and that makes it a bit insulting to the memory of Rabin.The usual collection of second rate pop starlets,love and peace,dyed red hair and the rest.By all means have a party but don,t make Rabins death the excuse.

The reason the 'left' is in this condition is because that is what the Jewish public wants, an ineffectual moral fig leaf. For instance, when Nitza Spiro's Likudnik friends told her to kick me off her Hebrew course here in London, (and she fabricated a hate charge to justify doing so), I didn't notice any 'Labor' Jews complaining that a charitable institution shouldn't do that, did I? As for Meretz in London - don't even ask...

DENURA ON RABIN TWO WEEKS BEFORE HIS ASSASSINATION EVER MENTIONED AS AN ACCOMPLICE? NOW ASKIN IS CAMPAINING TO GET AMIR RELEASED, BUT STRONGLY SUPPORTS OLMERT AT THE SAME TIME.

HIS NAME: DIVIDING JERUSALEM, A HAMAS-HIZBOLLAH PALESTINIAN STATE IN OUR BACKYARD