It happened 10 years ago
On November 4th 1995, during the Peace Gathering which we organized in Tel Aviv, Rabin began his speach with these words: "Allow me to say that I am deeply moved. I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming here tonight to say yes to peace and no to violence."
A few minutes later he was murdered by a Jewish Israeli terrorist. Public calls for his death had been launched in Israel, encouraged by the passivity of political leaders, of which some are in power today, and Palestinian terrorists.
It was as if they had wanted to kill progress, democracy and peace. The man and his message.
The handshake between Rabin and Arafat had created enormous hope, and offered the state of Israel the beginning a standardization with several Arab and Muslim countries. Peace treaties had been signed with Jordan. Israel had been invited to regional conferences in Casablanca, Cairo and Amman. Meetings between Israelis and Palestinians were becoming frequent.
China and India, who didn't recognize Israel before, were developing economic and political relationships. Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Itzhak Rabin received Nobel Peace Prizes. For the first time in the history of Israel, the National Education budget was the most important one
Unemployment was at 6%, growth was at 8%. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were invested in Palestine, cities were liberated, and hope was blooming.
On November 4th 1995, before being murdered, Rabin declared: "Peace will be made in difficulty and in pain". A sad prophecy.
Today, ten years later, Israelis are considered persona non grata in the majority of the Arab and Muslim countries. 40% of the Israeli budget is devoted to the army, one child in three is poor, and 40% of Palestinians suffer malnutrition. Infrastructures like the Gaza airport have been destroyed. .
Unemployment is at 12% in Israel , and 50% in Gaza . In Palestine , investments are practically at a standstill. The GNP per person is 840$, while it had been at 1460$.
The Israeli army controls Palestinian cities. More than three thousand dead and tens of thousands of wounded shroud the two populations in gloom.
The response to the poverty, ignorance, fanaticism and violence which they breed, is to continue on the path opened by Itzhak Rabin.