Yitzhak Rabin: Leader for the People

    

    In doing the readings and listening to the lectures in class this week, I noticed that the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin stood out to me as pivotal in the history of the old city. Key events in history such as this must be examined in great detail, as the aftermath can genuinely change the course of history. Rabin was very well known as the prime minister of Israel. His intentions with Israel were lost for a long time. He dreamed of allying and making amends with their neighbors, the Palestinians and the Arabs. These actions, however, would ultimately lead to his death on November 4, 1995.

    Rabin would begin his career in the armed forces, fighting for his country. Against his later beliefs, his military career began with him leading and directing operations in Jerusalem. He became chief of staff for his unit in 1964 and drew up strategies that led to the destruction of an enemy aircraft that proved pivotal in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Because of his actions during this short war, he became renowned as a hero in the public eye of the Israeli people. 

    In 1968, however, Rabin’s military career would end, and his political career would begin to flourish. He became his nation's ambassador to the United States, leading him to form crucial relationships with U.S. leaders. These relationships allowed him to gain access to military weapons systems, which he would then be allowed to send back to Israel. Then, in March 1973, he returned to Israel and was elected to their parliament. Here, he began to form who he was as a political figure. He was notorious for his use of peace tactics. However, he avoided being strung and using necessary force when peace was not an option. 

    Jumping ahead to 1995, we met with the new Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's prime minister and defense minister. His actions at this time were highly forward-thinking. He was focused on creating peace amongst all his neighbors, hoping to stop further conflict in and around the Holy Land. Unfortunately, not everyone agreed with these plans, which would be shown on November 4, 1995. At 9:30 p.m., Rabin was leaving the city hall, where Yigal Amir would confront him. Amir intended to end any of Rabin's actions forever. There, he would fire three shots, two of which struck Rabin. The injuries sustained from the shots would prove to be too much for the doctors to fix, leading to his death on the operating table.

    Rabin will be forever remembered as one of the few great leaders of Israel. In extreme conflict and violence, the voices in power become much louder. Right now, Rabin is the voice their nation needs. They need a peacekeeper whose goals are to resolve and not strike down. There will come another leader like him; that much is inevitable. However, this will only happen when someone stands up for their country and states that this senseless conflict should be no more. The Holy Land does not belong to one religion or one kind of people. The city is sacred and loved by many and must remain that way.

Works Cited:

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-assassination-of-yitzhak-rabin