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ISAAC RABIN - SOLDIER OF PEACE

Isaac Rabin was born in Jerusalem, Israel, on March 1, 1922. His parents, Nehemiah and Rosa, had immigrated to Israel in the early 20th century. Rabin graduated from the “Kaduri” Agricultural School with honors.

In 1941 he enlisted in the Palmach (Elite Unit for Jewish Defense during the British mandate). He participated in countless military operations. He was a platoon commander, battalion commander, and eventually the commander of the Harel Brigade in the War of Independence in 1948.

He was a representative of the delegation that participated in the armistice negotiations with Egypt, held in Rhodes in 1949. Rabin continued to climb the military career and in 1964 he was appointed Chief of Staff 3 years later and led the Israeli army to victory in the Six Day War.

At the end of 1967 the life of Isaac Rabin took an important turn when he left the army and chose a diplomatic career. He was appointed Ambassador of Israel to the United States, a political position he held from 1968 to 1973 and which provided him with the opportunity to consolidate close ties between the United States and Israel.

At the end of his term in Washington, he returned to Israel, and joined the Labor Party. During the government of Golda Meir he was appointed Minister of Labor. In 1974, after the resignation of Golda Meir Rabin, he was elected Prime Minister of the State of Israel. During his first term as Prime Minister (1974 to 1977) he completed the open negotiations between Israel and Egypt, and signed a provisional agreement with Egypt.

At the end of his first term, he continued in the new Likud government and in the government of National Unity, occupying the position of Minister of Defense and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Knesset (Parliament).

In the following elections in 1992, Rabin was elected Prime Minister for the second time. During his tenure, in 1993, he signed the "Declaration of Principles on Interim Provisions for Self-Government" (the Oslo Accord) with PLO President Yasser Arafat to end the conflict between them. A year later, he signed the peace treaty between the two countries with King Hussein of Jordan.

For his great efforts and his constant commitment to promoting peace, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 along with Shimon Peres, and the President of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat.

In 1995, at the end of the massive peace demonstration called in Tel Aviv on November 4, Isaac Rabin was assassinated.

Isaac Rabin, an upright leader, faithful to the ideals of peace. He fought tirelessly to reach a lasting solution to the conflict. His audacity and tenacity led him to overcome the most difficult obstacles that stood in the way over and over again. Our school proudly bears the name of this great hero.

“We will continue on the path of peace with determination and strength. We will not give up. Peace will triumph over all its enemies, because the alternative is worse for all of us. And we must prevail ”.

Isaac Rabin, December 10, 1994.