Rabin's ministers: Back then we had hope

Sneh, Ben-Eliezer, Sarid and other former ministers gather at Rabin memorial to mark 16th anniversary of his assassination; bemoan 'gloomy reality' and 'withering democracy'

Yoav Malka|Published: 11.08.11 , 12:09

A host of Israeli politicians took part in a ceremony Tuesday morning marking the 16th anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination at the hands of right-wing extremist Yigal Amir.

The ceremony was held at the Rabin memorial in Tel Aviv in the spirit of the social protest movement which emerged this past summer. Some of those on hand mentioned Rabin's social agenda. "Rabin's government was characterized mainly by the transfer of funds from the settlements and security issues to society and the advancement of the peace process," said Peace Now General Secretary Yariv Oppenheimer.

A number of politicians who served as ministers during Rabin's second tenure as prime minister, including Ephraim Sneh, Yossi Sarid, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Uzi Baram and Avraham Shohat, were also on hand.

"We are reliving the pain of what happened here…The government whose members are present here today was one of the only governments in Israel to raise multiple banners simultaneously – the political, social and economic (banners)," said Baram. "As the years pass we find ourselves in a gloomy reality. The political situation is dismal, and the spirit of Israel's democracy is also withering away – that same spirit which during Rabin's era and the years that followed was a source of pride for all of us."

ניסיון לשחזור תמונת ההשבעה (צילום: מוטי קמחי)

Ceremony in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Ben-Eliezer said, "Back then (during the days of Rabin's government) we had hope. Unfortunately, the situation today…We are heading towards despair and also towards prayer."

Sneh, who served as Rabin's health minister, spoke to Ynet after the ceremony: "We mustn't forget that after the murder the government that rose to power changed the system and our attitude by 180 degrees. Today, I don't see anyone who can continue (Rabin's) path."