Obama: Israel won't know peace while Palestinians are gripped by despair

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Israelis looking at a recorded speech by U.S. President Barack Obama at a memorial service marking the 14th anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's murder. (AP)

Thousands gathered Saturday at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square to remember slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin at the exact spot where he was gunned down 14 years ago by a right-wing extremist. Remarking on Rabin's quest for peace during his life, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a video message that "Israelis will not find true security while the Palestinians are gripped by hopelessness and despair."

In the video, broadcast at the rally and televised, Obama praised Rabin as a statesman who saw the world through the prism of war and peace. He quoted Rabin as having said that the only battle it was a pleasure to wage was the battle for peace.

Obama added that the answer to all the doubts that accompanied Rabin's quest for peace have to be "yes" as everyone is working toward a lasting peace for Israel and its neighbors.

The U.S. president reassured the crowd that "America's bond with our Israeli allies is unbreakable," and pledged that U.S. support for Israel's defense will never be undermined.

"To all who seek peace I say tonight, you will always have a partner in the United States of America and in my administration," Obama said. "That's why we've been working aggressively for our clear goal, two states living side by side in peace and security."

The video is another step in the U.S. leader's attempt to speak directly to the Israeli public in light of the very low level of support he has among Israelis.

President Shimon Peres opened the ceremony, which was interspersed with performances by Israel's leading artists, saying that it was "better to have imperfect peace, than a perfect war with no end."

"Yitzhak didn't sugarcoat things," Peres said. "He didn't hide, didn't reject, even when he knew the price the public would have to pay. Even when he knew the danger to himself personally. He didn't get spooked. He didn't fold. He didn't retreat. He knew that those who starve peace, feed extremism."

Commenting on the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, which has been based on a solution of two states living peacefully side by side, Peres said that "anyone who rejects the two-state solution, won't bring a one-state solution. They will instead bring one war, not one state. A bloody war with no end."

He went on to urge the Israeli people "don't let go of the peace process, don't leave it up to others and don't be afraid of the price of peace."

"You, here tonight, don't leave any stone unturned so that next year we will be able to reconvene here, on the 15th anniversary of the murder, and say 'we did it, we realized our dream and Yitzhak's last will and testament," Peres continued.

Peres also addressed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his speech, saying that "we both signed the Oslo accords, and I turn to you as a colleague and ask that you don't let go."

"I know that you toiled for the sake of your people for 50 years," Peres continued. "Toil that was accompanied by many disappointments and frustrations. But knowing my people and Israel's government I can tell you that Israel wants true peace, not make-believe. A close peace, not peace from a distance. Therefore, it stands to reason that your 51st year will bring independence to the Palestinian people and peace to the State of Israel. The next year could be a turning point."

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar also spoke at the rally, saying that "everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the murder."

"An accusing finger was pointed at an entire political wing and its leaders, who didn't agree with Rabin's vision," he said. "14 years have gone by and it is time now to reach out our hands toward our brothers."

Sa'ar criticized the outright negating of others' opinions, saying that "anyone who uses the term 'traitor' seeks to delegitimize the other's stance by making the opponent look bad."

"It is our duty to say in a clear voice: there is no ideology that is above the law or that justifies harming democracy," Sa'ar concluded.

Kadima Chairwoman and opposition leader Tzipi Livni said in her address that "the citizens of Israel have demonstrated that they come out to the squares when peace is within reach. Now, all of Israel's citizens, those who came to the rally and those who didn't, are demanding that Israel be restored."

"We seek to restore Israel to the time when they were proud to be its citizens. To restore the Israel that our parents dreamt of for us, that our grandparents dreamt of for them and we dreamt of for our children. It is possible, all that is required is a decision ? the quiet is deceptive. We are sitting on a volcano, but as opposed to the natural phenomenon, which is uncontrollable, we have control over our destiny, and it is within our power to decide what happens here in Israel, what happens with us and with our children," Livni said.



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