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Home , Yitzhak Rabin

Administration of William J. Clinton, 1995 / Nov. 5 1987

Now it falls to us, all those in , and other facilities abroad, including all mili- throughout the Middle East, and around the tary facilities and naval vessels and stations. world who yearn for and love peace to make In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set sure it doesn’t happen. my hand this fourth day of November, in the Yitzhak Rabin was my partner and my year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- friend. I admired him, and I loved him very ty-five, and of the Independence of the much. Because words cannot express my true United States of America the two hundred feelings, let me just say, shalom, chaver, and twentieth. goodbye, friend. William J. Clinton

NOTE: The President spoke at 5:48 p.m. in the [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, 11:26 a.m., November 6, 1995] he referred to Prime Minister Rabin’s widow, NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Leah. Federal Register on November 7.

Proclamation 6848—Death of Statement of Condolence on the Yitzhak Rabin Death of Prime Minister Rabin , 1995 November 5, 1995 By the President of the United States Prime Minister Rabin gave his life to of America Israel, first as a soldier for its freedom, then finally as a martyr for its lasting peace. A Proclamation For his example, his friendship to the Today a senseless act of violence has United States, and his warm friendship to robbed the United States of a close friend me, I am eternally grateful. and robbed the world of a statesman and William J. Clinton courageous champion of peace. Yitzhak Rabin was a brave man who de- NOTE: The President inscribed this statement in fended his country for half a century and a condolence book at the Israeli Embassy. An original was not available for verification of the whose vision and tenacity brought the world content of this statement. closer to peace. He was a man of hope, a man of wisdom, a man who sought to improve the lives of Exchange With Reporters Aboard all those he touched. Air Force One The peace process that he began will be November 5, 1995 his legacy. The people of the United States and the peace-loving people of the world are Death of Prime Minister Rabin of Israel determined that the peace process will go Q. This is quite a President gathering, Mr. forward. President, your thoughts as the flight of As a mark of respect for the memory of this—— Yitzhak Rabin and America’s support for President Clinton. We’re all going to pay peace in the Middle East, I hereby order that our respects to Prime Minister Rabin. We the flag of the United States shall be flown all knew him. And we’re going to express our at half-staff upon all public buildings and support for Israel and for the peace process. grounds, at all military posts and naval sta- Q. President Carter said the other day tions, and on all naval vessels of the Federal when he was being interviewed that he Government in the District of Columbia and thought, given the circumstances, there logi- throughout the United States and its Terri- cally enough would be a pause, not a pause tories and possessions until his interment. I in peacemaking but a reflective pause, and also direct that the flag shall be flown at half- then, of course, the process should gather staff for the same length of time at all United again. How quickly do you think the Israelis States Embassies, legations, consular offices, can pull themselves together?

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President Clinton. I don’t have any idea. Then I will—on the way back perhaps I’ll We don’t know yet. We are going to have have something more to say about it. But I meetings when we’re there; we’re going to think it would be inappropriate—this is a visit and then maybe we’ll have some more— time of national mourning for the people of some better thoughts for you then. Israel and a time when all of us who knew Q. Mr. President, collectively when you Prime Minister Rabin feel a great sense of look at the manifest of this trip, what message loss and an enormous sense of respect, even does it send to the Israelis, Middle East, and awe, for what he did and for the sacrifice the entire world for that matter? he paid. I’d like for us to take the time to President Clinton. Well, I think it should properly honor that, and then on the way send, first of all, the message that the United back perhaps something will emerge from States still stands as a genuine friend and a our meetings which will be useful for me to partner to the people of Israel, Republicans comment on. and Democrats alike. We have decades of Q. Will you be seeing Mr. Netanyahu, or dedication to the cause of peace here, from can you give us an idea of who you will see? the work President Carter did with the Camp Press Secretary Mike McCurry. We’ll David accords to the work President Bush do that for all of you here. did in starting this process that has been con- President Clinton. Mike has that. summated in the last couple of years, the Q. President Carter, we haven’t heard Secretaries of State that are here, the leaders from you. What are your thoughts about the of both parties in the Congress—the United message that should be sent by this delega- States is standing with Israel and standing tion that includes people who were in your for the cause of peace. And we’re standing administration—yourself of course? strong and deep. President Carter. Well, I’ve known Prime Q. President Bush, what goes through Minister Rabin for 24 years and admired him your mind, sir, as you consider all the familiar personally and as a great leader. I’m honored faces on this trip and the message that it may to be invited by President Clinton to partici- be sending to the rest of the world? pate. I think it was a very wise thing on the President Bush. Well, of course, I’m very part of the President to put together this tre- grateful to President Clinton for personally mendously impressive delegation because in inviting me. Barbara and I felt close to Prime this time of sorrow and grief and uncertainty, Minister Rabin, as do the others here, very I think it is very important to every Israeli close to him. I remember when he visited to know the United States stands beside us us in our home up in Maine and all of that. with full support. And so I would simply leave the policy to I wasn’t insinuating that the peace process President Clinton but simply say I’m sure it should be delayed, but the comment I made will be a very emotional event, and I hope was that the Israelis would have to make this that it conveys that the Republicans, Demo- decision, and for a few days at least we crats, whatever, are together in the support shouldn’t be pushing them on an exact sched- of Israel and clearly in support of the peace ule for the peace process. process. And that’s all I think we can expect But I think it’s important, too, for the from this. Israelis to not only know that we are support- Q. The Syrian track seems awfully tough, ive of Israel but also supportive of the peace even before this. Various approaches have process. And our coming, I think, is closely been tried—President Carter actually medi- related to that. ated 16 tough days. You’ve talked to us on So I hope that President Clinton’s ideas it. Do you have some new tactic? I don’t for this mission, burdened as we are with sad- know how many ways there are to go about ness and the personal loss, will be productive it, but have you thought of some way to break for Israel and for the peace process. this stalemate that might work? Q. People have said that one of the causes President Clinton. I think I should defer of this is the polarization that has occurred all substantive conversations about this until in Israel because of the peace process and after the funeral and after the meetings. the very vigorous opposition to it. Is there

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any lesson for us in the United States with The American people mourn with you in what happened yesterday? the loss of your leader. And I mourn with President Clinton. Well, of course we’ve you, for he was my partner and friend. Every dealt with some polarization of our own. And moment we shared was a joy because he was I think the lesson is that in a free and vital a good man and an inspiration because he society, you want the widest range of free- was also a great man. dom of speech. But words can have con- Leah, I know that too many times in the sequences; people can be driven to extremes. life of this country you were called upon to And our society only works when—any de- comfort and console the mothers and the fa- mocracy only works when freedom is han- thers, the husbands and the wives, the sons dled responsibly. And I think that’s the lesson and the daughters who lost their loved ones here. to violence and vengeance. You gave them The Israelis have been through all these strength. Now, we here and millions of peo- wars, all this tension for all these decades ple all around the world, in all humility and and never had a political before. honor, offer you our strength. May God com- And I hope—I hope it will never happen fort you among all the mourners of Zion and again. I hope they—I admire their flourish- . ing democracy; I like the big and raucous Yitzhak Rabin lived the . arguments they have. But they should do it Through every trial and triumph, the struggle respecting one another’s innate patriotism for independence, the wars for survival, the and dignity and fundamental right to partici- pursuit of peace, and all he served on the pate. We’ve got to keep this thing within front lines, this son of David and of Solomon proper bounds. took up arms to defend Israel’s freedom and But you know, that’s something we all have laid down his life to secure Israel’s future. to work on; all democracies have to work on He was a man completely without pre- that. Israel doesn’t—that’s not just a com- tense, as all of his friends knew. I read that ment about Israel. I’m sure they’ll have the in 1949, after the War of Independence, time to reflect on all of that. And they are David Ben-Gurion sent him to represent a very great people, a very great democracy, Israel at the armistice talks at , and and I’m sure they’ll work it out. he had never before worn a necktie and did not know how to tie the knot. So the problem NOTE: The exchange began at 6:05 p.m. aboard was solved by a friend who tied it for him Air Force One en route to the airport in , before he left and showed him how to pre- Israel. Former Presidents George Bush and serve the knot simply by loosening the tie were members of the U.S. delega- tion attending Prime Minister Rabin’s funeral. A and pulling it over his head. Well, the last reporter referred to Party leader Binyamin time we were together, not 2 weeks ago, he Netanyahu. showed up for a black-tie event on time but without the black tie. And so he borrowed a tie, and I was privileged to straighten it Remarks at the Funeral of Prime for him. It is a moment I will cherish as long Minister Rabin in Jerusalem, Israel as I live. November 6, 1995 To him, ceremonies and words were less important than actions and deeds. Six weeks Leah, to the Rabin children and grand- ago, the King and President Mubarak will children and other family members, Presi- remember, we were at the White House for dent Weizman, Acting Prime Minister Peres, signing the Israel-Palestinian agreement. members of the Israeli Government and the And a lot of people spoke. I spoke; the King , distinguished leaders from the Mid- spoke; Chairman Arafat spoke; President dle East and around the world, especially His Mubarak spoke; our Foreign Ministers all Majesty King Hussein for those remarkable spoke. And finally Prime Minister Rabin got and wonderful comments and President Mu- up to speak, and he said, ‘‘First, the good barak for taking this historic trip here, and news: I am the last speaker.’’ But he also to all the people of Israel. understood the power of words and symbol-

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