Israel weeps for Rabin

'The terrible price we all paid was not in vain'

November 12, 1995
Web posted at: 3:25 p.m. EST (2025 GMT)

TEL AVIV, Isreal (CNN) -- Eight days after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israel continues to celebrate his life and mourn his death.

At least 100,000 mourners gathered Sunday evening in the Tel Aviv square where Rabin was gunned down after a rally last week. The sea of faces appeared endless, the grief palpable, as attendees cried, sang songs, and burned candles.

Rabin's widow, Leah, delivered an emotional tribute to her fallen husband, often addressing him directly. Overlooking it all was a giant portrait of Rabin bordered by Israeli flags. A sign atop it read, "Shalom haver" -- or "Goodbye friend," the tender words U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke at Rabin's burial.

"Eighty of the world's nations came from the far corners of the earth," Mrs. Rabin said in a clear, calm voice. "Lift your eyes about you, Yitzhak, and look. ... an entire country in a week of mourning, a death that stopped her in her tracks, weeping.

"Your grave is never cold; covered with flowers, lighting memorial candles, leaving you letters, straight to you.

Mrs. Rabin had special words for acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres, who chose to attend the rally despite security concerns. "I turn to you, Shimon Peres," she implored, "and I call on you to continue to lead to peace in the way and the spirit of Yitzhak."

Mrs. Rabin also spoke to her husband's bodyguards, who have been criticized for their failure.

"Yitzhak labored years and not for a moment found that something could happen to him, because you were guarding him," she said. "Thus, I was also quiet and calm. Today, I swear ... on all that is dear to me that we will never have any grudge or anger ... regarding what's happened."

Mrs. Rabin said the tragedy had increased awareness of the problems of the Middle East and of Rabin's role in a solution. "The terrible price we all paid was not in vain," she said. "For we rose from that nightmare to a different world -- a world more appreciative and aware of your being our source of inspiration and aspiration."

She said her late husband is "still our hope for peace in a society that will be better." As a reminder of that change, the square which saw Rabin's death has been renamed Yitzhak Rabin Square.

"Eighty of the world's nations came from the far corners of the earth. Lift your eyes about you, Yitzhak, and look....an entire country in a week of mourning, a death that stopped her in her tracks, weeping."
-- Leah Rabin

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Israel weeps for Rabin

'The terrible price we all paid was not in vain'

"Eighty of the world's nations came from the far corners of the earth. Lift your eyes about you, Yitzhak, and look....an entire country in a week of mourning, a death that stopped her in her tracks, weeping."

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