Israel remembers Rabin

Israelis will gather at different spots throughout the country on Thursday to mark the 14th anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. A rally was held at Tel Aviv University at 11 am with Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar at the podium.

At 3 pm, President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government ministers will attend a state ceremony commemorating Rabin at the Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, and at 5 pm a special Knesset session will be held.

Speaking at the Tel Aviv University rally Thursday, the education minister said, "There is no political opinion that is above the law, which allows violation of the law and harming democracy.

"Sometimes the majority is wrong. This can happen. But there is no other way to make decisions in a society and the majority's opinion must be accepted and we must teach that the law is the glue that holds us all together. It is not a suggestion to uphold only when one agrees with it. We are living in a society with a lot of violence, but we mustn't grow accustomed to violence."

Speaking of the lessons learned from Rabin's murder, Sa'ar said, "We will remember the murder as the Israeli society's low point, which we must never reach again. We will remember that we must safeguard what is dear to us – the State of Israel and the democratic regime – we must fight and nothing should be taken for granted."

Commenting on the political dispute over Israel's approach to the peace process, Sa'ar said, "We all want to protect Israel from the many enemies that seek its destruction…It can and should be stated that peace cannot be based on an illusion, reaching peace unfortunately does not depend only on us and our will. The current government wishes to renew the peace process. Unfortunately, we are met with Palestinian refusal for internal political reasons."

Obama to give message at main rally

Wednesday evening a candle lighting ceremony took place at the President's Residence, with the former prime minister's family in attendance, as well as students and youth movement representatives.

At the ceremony, the president said, "The light of Yitzhak's actions, his love and dedication to his people from his youth until his last day, gives light that will never fade."

A central rally in memory of the late prime minister will be held at on Saturday at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, where he was shot. US President Barack Obama has recorded a speech which will be broadcast at the rally, in which he expresses hopes that Rabin's path will be followed.

Other prominent speakers to take the stage at Saturday's rally include Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, and Chairwoman of the Rabin Center and the late prime minister's daughter Dalia Rabin.

Wednesday night Dalia Rabin said, "Fourteen years ago the banner that was waving in the square read 'Yes to peace, no to violence'. The years have passed and the Israeli society is still dealing with serious violence. This week in particular, and in light of recent incidents, it is important to show up at the square and remind everyone of the values he spoke of at that rally and for which he fought."

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin will open the special Knesset session later Thursday in memory of the late prime minister. In his speech Rivlin is slated to say that he now understands that Rabin's killer "has finally penetrated the depths of the society and has had an effect, at last, on all its segments."