Barak: We have no other Labor Party
Defense minister uses party ceremony in memory of slain Prime Minister Rabin to talk about 'factionalism' in Labor
The ceremony was attended by Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak and other party officials.
"I promise you Yitzhak, and all of you," Barak said, "that I have no plans to give up. His way is my way. His way is our way, in war and in peace. But every day passing by may lead to a deadlock and to a reality which will critically damage the one solution, which has no alternative."
According to the Rabin legacy, Barak clarified, "it is our duty to build a power of deterrence and stand strong against all risks, those that are near and those that are far, but from a position of power, to continue firmly to work for peace."
Labor ministers with Rabin's daughter Dalia (Photo: Ofer Amram)
Barak also addressed the situation of the Labor Party, which he said was experiencing "difficult days." He added, however, that "we have no other party, and it's stronger than all its shortcomings. We must overcome the difficulties and call on everyone to stop the factionalism. We have more in common that any disagreement."
Earlier Friday, it was decided to postpone the main rally in memory of Rabin, planned for Saturday evening, due to the stormy weather in Israel. The rally will be held next Saturday evening at Rabin Square.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday during a special Knesset session in memory of Rabin, "We did not always see eye to eye, but even when we profoundly disagreed I always had the greatest respect for him because I knew that his decisions stemmed from what he believed was best for the country… Still, even today, there are some who refuse to accept democratic choices and the preeminence of the law."
Netanyahu concluded his address by saying, "We will continue to follow Rabin's path – to do what is best for the people. I pray that when the time comes to make the bigger decisions that lay ahead, we will know to respect each other and the law."
