November 22, 1995
Mr. President,
Mr. Speaker,
Members of Knesset,
Honored Guests,
Today is not like other days on which Governments of Israel have been formed. The establishment of a new government is usually a festive day for our democracy. But not this time. This time, the image of Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin stands in the background of its establishment. The Prime Minister who was murdered in the city square before our eyes, because of the belief that took hold in his heart. The world has lost a statesman, the nation a captain, the youth a paragon, and I -- a friend.
This criminal murder only strengthened within us the recognition of the justice of our path, and the need to continue it with even greater vigor. From this awareness, and from the awareness that we must continue the task of establishing peace and carrying it through to completion -- as Yitzhak had hoped -- I stand before you and ask for your confidence in the government which I have assembled according to the law, after the President assigned me this task.
My heart is saying a prayer for the people, for the country, for peace within and without.
Since that evening in Yitzhak Rabin Square, the country has been filled with a feeling of pain and a feeling of crisis. The murderer's bullets were not only directed at the heart of Yitzhak Rabin, but also at the heart of Israeli democracy. The bullets were fired at the one leading the peace effort, in order to murder the entire peace process.
This was an attempt to undermine democracy, its institutions, and its decisions. This attempt must fail, and we will ensure that it fails utterly. The murderer's bullets put an end to the wonderful life of Yitzhak Rabin, but, they will not destroy the democratic process nor the peace process.
The vast majority of the public showed maturity and responsibility. Many expressed remorse over their silence in the face of the spoken threats. The youth, especially, proved that there is a new generation, full of emotion and inner conviction. They lit memorial candles and sparked hope in our hearts. With whispered prayers and songs of our country, they succeeded in uniting the people, and showed a clear direction to their aspirations. For the first time, the older generation feels that it has something to learn from the younger generation.
The shocking murder of the prime minister obliges the political system in Israel to take real measures to diminish the polarity among the people of Israel, increasing unity and reconciliation while preventing public violence. In this regard, permit me Mr. Speaker, to thank the 112 members of Knesset, among them a majority of the opposition factions, who recommended to the President, despite the serious disagreements between us, to assign the task of forming the government to the representative of the party from which the murdered prime minister came. This is a clear statement that in a democracy, government does not change through murder. This is proof that even in the absence of unanimity, it is possible to maintain unity. This is also a demonstration that above and beyond political debate -- and political debate is the life breath of democracy -- there is a large moral common denominator, a common denominator of an ancient injunction which has existed ever since Mt. Sinai: "Thou shalt not kill." Do not murder Jews, and do not murder Arabs. Do not murder rivals, and do not murder opponents. Do not murder a human being, for man was created in the image of God.
In light of this experience, I call upon all members of this House, both in government and in the opposition, to continue in this responsible approach. I invite the opposition and its leaders to discuss the ways and means that need to be taken in order to uproot attempts to achieve political results by violent means, whether physical or verbal. We cannot allow the murderers to achieve their desired purpose. We cannot permit democracy to be crushed. The nature of democracy is to respect free speech for all, and to respect the decision of the majority. The majority must, indeed, respect the rights of the minority, including the right to work in legitimate ways to bring about change, even if the majority does not agree with that change. By the same token, the minority must respect decisions by the majority, any majority, even if it does not approve of its size or composition.
The struggle against the violent fringes -- standing up to those who want to destroy democracy -- must be a joint effort by all parties of this House. The supreme obligation of us all is to defend the very existence of democracy in Israel. After all, it is democracy that has enabled us to face hardship, fire and war, despite differences of opinion among us. Democracy has enabled us to contend with external dangers, even when there were disagreements at home. Now democracy is facing a murderous attack, and threats from within. We must defend it, bolster it, protect it -- together. We should not take democracy for granted. We must strengthen education to democracy, explain its values, and impart it to all public sectors and circles within society. We must ensure our youth that Israel will continue to be a properly functioning country, a fortress of democracy in the Middle East that defends human dignity and the sanctity of life. We must educate people to love their fellow man, to love his people, to love his land and his freedom.
This task, to a great extent, is incumbent upon our highest democratic institution -- the country's elected Knesset. The Knesset is established by free elections, but its moral legitimacy depends upon public trust. I appeal to the members of this House to uphold the norms of public speech, to conduct political deliberations while listening to each other, with mutual respect. Abusive words must not overrule reason. Verbal violence is also a form of violence, and sometimes loose language allows words which should not be permitted. Let us restore to the Knesset the honor it demands, and to the people its trust in its highest democratic institution.
We have decided not to allow lawbreakers to determine the law of the land. We must not permit rule by violence.
We will continue to bear the banner carried by the late Yitzhak Rabin at the hour at which he fell, and which others will carry after us: "No to violence, yes to peace."
The government that I am honored to present to you will be established on this basis -- a government whose priorities will be similar to those which Yitzhak Rabin announced when he presented his government to the Knesset three years and four months ago.
Understandably, there will be changes brought about by time or events. The government will aspire to be a government for all the people, though with a clear policy. The government will aspire to work for the long term, and not just address immediate needs.
There is much to be proud of in our past achievements. A review of the period that has elapsed since Yitzhak Rabin formed his government shows that he, and we, kept our word.
We can see all this on the roads. We can see the interchanges on every highway in Israel, the junctions, roads and routes -- living testimony of a change in priorities. We can see that unemployment has decreased, inflation has been curbed, the economy has grown, absorption of immigrants has improved, education has been broadened and Israel is in the midst of an economic upswing, social progress, and political ascent.
All this, Mr. Speaker, could not have happened without another promise that has been fulfilled -- the renewal of the peace process.
The peace treaty with Jordan; the interim agreements with the Palestinians, the building of an economic peace alongside the political peace, whose foundations were laid in Casablanca and Amman; our striving toward peace with Syria and Lebanon -- all this has opened a new world before us, almost the entire world. No longer can it be said that "the whole world is against us." On the contrary, we can already say that "the whole world is with us" -- as we saw when distinguished delegations came from all corners of the world in order to pay their last respects to the Prime Minister, who led the peace process. This took place in Jerusalem, united Jerusalem, Jerusalem which is the capital of Israel -- which will remain united and will remain the capital of Israel, and which we will continue to build. Jerusalem in which we will not allow political activity that may undermine its status as the exclusive capital of the State of Israel.
The Rabin government, therefore, achieved magnificent accomplishments. We will not allow others to obscure them, nor will we permit ourselves to rest on their laurels.
We will look to the future. This is our obligation to the young generation. Its future and its well-being will be the foremost concern of the government now being presented before you.
The guidelines of the government have been presented to the Knesset. From them, it is clear that its first mission will be to continue bolstering security and promoting peace. Israel's defensive capability will be maintained, and neither eroded nor weakened.
At the same time, it is our obligation to complete the breakthrough toward peace, which will enhance security. Our main objective will be to arrive, if possible by the end of this century, at a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. To create a Middle East without violence, without bloodshed, without terrorism, without wars, and without the factors which led to all of these -- poverty, ignorance, backwardness and prejudice.
We will act to remove the conflicts and the threats, to rejuvenate this ancient region through reliance on its spiritual heritages, and by adopting modern economics and enlightened approaches to government.
To this end, we will deepen cooperation with Egypt; we will continue to build a full peace with Jordan; we will implement the interim agreement with the Palestinians and support their democratic elections. We are prepared to renew the negotiations with Syria and Lebanon. We will work with the United States through deep understanding, and with the participation of Europe and Japan.
I wish to say to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, that there is no longer any logic to war between us. The differences of opinion which remain can be resolved through negotiations based upon mutual respect. I would like to propose to the President of Syria, that we each do our utmost to put an end to the era of wars in the Middle East, and to make clear that peace between Syria and Israel can create the historic opportunity to bring a comprehensive peace to the whole region. The negotiations with Syria can acquire the character of a comprehensive regional peace, and in every sphere -- political, strategic and economic. Resolving the conflict between us can bring tremendous benefits, and be a further benefit to all the peoples in the region.
Peace can create a new standard of living for the people of the region, and a high standard of living is the best guarantee of a stable peace. Political peace means an end to wars. Economic peace means the start of growth.
And as for us, I learned from my teacher and mentor David Ben-Gurion that to be "a light unto the nations" is a Jewish vision, and must be an Israeli strategy.
Members of Knesset,
The government being presented to you to today will work to achieve domestic harmony within Israel. We will not build upon ideological coercion, and we will not allow ourselves to submit to violence. Instead of incitement, we will offer dialogue. Instead of threats, respect for feelings. We will allow all people to live in accordance with their faith, and will we refrain from religious or anti-religious coercion.
The aspiration to preserve internal peace has been the generations-long wish of the Jewish people. Baseless hatred invited destruction. Tolerance brought solace. As Rabbi Kook said: "And if we are destroyed, and the world is destroyed with us, through baseless hatred -- we will again be rebuilt, and the world with us, through unbridled love." We, for our part, will continue to engage in dialogue with all political parties and with all segments of society -- religious and non-religious -- in order to find ways to mend the rift and to increase understanding in Israeli society. We shall maintain the status quo in matters of religion and state.
Even though we have reached an agreement with the Palestinian Authority, we have no intention of ignoring the distress of the settlers in the territories in the wake of the agreement. We will not slacken our responsibility for their security, and we will not turn a blind eye to their needs. And without violating the agreements, we will talk with them, in order to resolve the real problems that have arisen -- or will arise -- because of changes on the ground.
The policy of security and peace places additional burdens on the IDF, the Israel Police and the security services. It is thanks to them that we have been able to achieve peace -- peace from genuine strength, peace that will enhance security. We will enable them to carry out these new missions, and we will ensure the preservation of the IDF's deterrent capability against all external threats. We will continue to build our military strength under these new circumstances, while maintaining the IDF's qualitative edge, its capability and readiness. The IDF and the other security forces will continue to bear responsibility for the peace of the borders of the country, as well as for its ongoing security, and they will strike at terrorism and terrorists with full force. The defense establishment will continue to develop sophisticated weapons in order to preserve Israel's qualitative edge.
From this podium, I want to extend my thanks and encouragement to all members of our security forces -- who stand guard over us, day and night, on land, in the air, and at sea. I want to express my appreciation to the members of the GSS and the police who fight unceasingly against murderous terrorism, and who safeguard the security of the country's residents. Their contribution, both overt and covert, deserves every praise.
And wherever we turn, we will bear in mind those who have fallen in battle, the wounded, the bereaved families, and of course the fate of the POWs and MIAs. We must be worthy of their sacrifice and suffering.
Members of Knesset,
Our economic policy will not be dramatically changed -- one does not change what is successful. It will focus on continuing growth, striving toward full employment, curbing inflation, raising the standard of living and reducing social gaps, increasing exports and decreasing the trade deficit, improving the Israeli economy's competitive ability, and giving priority to scientific research and technological development.
It is our aspiration that Israel reach a level of national income comparable to that of the United States and Europe, and a rate of inflation on a par with that of those countries.
The success that we have inherited in economic policy requires a continuation of economic stability, both this year and in coming years. The broadening of the peace process will create new economic opportunities. The fear of the Arab boycott is dissipating, and opportunities for investments are increasing, especially with the creation of the new economic frameworks agreed upon in Amman and Casablanca.
One of the fruits of the New Middle East is a growth in the flow of tourists to the region in general, and to Israel in particular. In the first half of this year, there was an increase of 17% in tourism to Israel, compared to the same period last year. 22,000 tourists have arrived from Egypt, 17,000 from Jordan. Tourism is a peace industry. It fosters an interest in calm, and an atmosphere of economic good will. It also shows the great potential of open borders, and we will diligently pursue the development of regional tourist enterprises for the benefit of all.
In the sphere of housing, the need to ease the plight of young couples, new immigrants and large families will stand at the center of the government's attention. We must make it easier for them to purchase housing, and pay off mortgages. We will complete the disbanding of the mobile home sites, and will encourage suitable permanent housing.
Economic growth has allowed the government to invest more in society and in infrastructure -- investments in roads, homes and energy were tripled. The education budget grew by 72% and -- in shekel outlays -- is equal to the defense budget. We are investing relatively more in education than any other country in the world.
Immigration to Israel is our national ideal; it is the subject of our prayers and the focus of our policy. The forecast is that by end of the century, nearly 300,000 more immigrants will arrive, and in the next decade, immigration will reach one million people. We view the effort to absorb the new immigrants as a central challenge. The fact that there is almost no unemployment among the immigrants is an achievement of tremendous proportions. Today, Israel is the only country in the world that is absorbing immigrants and does not have concentrations of unemployed immigrants or concentrations of homeless people along the streets. However, not all of the immigrants have found employment in their professions. And some of the immigrants have not yet found proper housing; the Government will deepen its commitment to resolve these issues. Overall, however, we express our appreciation for the wonderful immigration which has come from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. They have brought with them a wealth of knowledge, education, and the desire to integrate into society, learn Hebrew, and be absorbed into the country so that they can make a full contribution quickly. This feeling also accompanied the special immigration which came from the far hills of Ethiopia, where despite the long and total isolation, they maintained their historic identity and their national and cultural uniqueness.
We must be concerned about the immigrants, not just immigration -- we must relate to the human drama of each and every one of them, and not just to the quantitative result. My great hope is that Israel will not only be an answer to the plight of the Jewish people, but also a magnet that attracts its sons from all parts of the world.
The government will apply itself to the unique concerns of the country's Arab, Druze, Bedouin, and Circassian citizens. Israel's population is approaching six million, one-sixth of whom -- almost a million -- are Arabs, Druze, Bedouin, and Circassians.
For nearly 50 years, we -- Jews and Arabs living in the State of Israel -- have proven that it is possible to live in respectful coexistence, even when hatred is rampant on the borders between us and our Arab neighbors. Jewish-Arab relations in Israel can also serve as a model for such a relationship with other Arab peoples as well.
Members of Knesset,
In the past three years, we have taken unprecedented measures to overcome the longstanding gaps and disparities in the Arab sector. Child allowances have been equalized, allocations to local authorities have been increased, land has been made available, new classrooms have been built, and the integration of Arab professionals into government bodies has begun, including the appointment of the first Arab ambassador by the Foreign Ministry. These are the beginnings which require continuation and reinforcement. Just as our region needs genuine peace, so does the country need genuine equality. We will be diligent regarding both concerns.
Before the eyes of the Government will stand our young generation -- a generation which is prepared to defend its life, and a generation which aspires to peace. The light in the candles that they lit in the days of mourning is a Jewish light; it is also a light to non-Jews. We, of the older generation, will do our utmost to assure full peace for the coming generation. It is for us, the current generation, to deal with the dilemmas and overcome the difficulties, so that the coming generation will be able to build a free, just, prosperous, civilized and democratic society, which will carry on the heritage of our fathers in a new and modern world.
People are our primary asset. Israel will be more and more a country which lives on science and technology, and therefore the most important investment was -- and remains -- the investment in human potential.
At the memorial ceremony for those who fell in the civil war which tore the American nation apart more than 130 years ago, President Lincoln spoke the words which became etched in the heart of every free person and lover of justice:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who have fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall have not died in vain -- that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
President Lincoln was murdered by an assassin before he could complete the mission that he had taken upon himself. The same tragedy of the murder of the head of government before he could complete his mission has also befallen us, with the death of Yitzhak Rabin.
We will complete his task. We will work so that Israel knows a "rebirth" of civil freedom, with human dignity, national security and genuine peace.
This must be a commitment of the people, by the people and for the people.
In his speech to the Knesset on the signing of the Oslo Agreement, Yitzhak ended by saying: "I call upon all members of this House to give us a chance to realize this great opportunity," and he quoted a line from the Song of Peace: 'Let the sun rise.'"
Shortly before his assassination, we stood and sang the Song of Peace together, the final song of his life; the song that remains first on our agenda.
We will let the morning shine.
Mr. Speaker,
We have placed on the table of the Knesset the guidelines of the new government and all the documents related to its formation, including the coalition agreements. According to Article 15 of the Basic Law: The Government, I am honored to present before the Knesset the government which I have formed, in accordance with the task placed upon me by the President of Israel. I ask that the Knesset express confidence in the government, as follows:
Shimon Peres - Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
Shulamit Aloni - Minister of Communications and Minister of Science and the Arts
Yossi Beilin - Minister; he will be a minister in the Prime Minister's Office
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer - Minister of Housing and Construction
Uzi Baram - Minister of Tourism
Ehud Barak - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Micha Harish - Minister of Trade and Industry
David Libai - Minister of Justice
Ora Namir - Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
Efraim Sneh - Minister of Health
Rabbi Yehuda Amital - Minister
Yair Tsaban - Minister of Immigrant Absorption
Yaacov Tsur - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Yisrael Kessar - Minister of Transport
Amnon Rubinstein - Minister of Education, Culture and Sports
Haim Ramon - Minister of the Interior
Gonen Segev - Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
Avraham Shohat - Minister of Finance
Moshe Shahal - Minister of Internal Security
Shimon Shetreet - Minister of Religious Affairs
Yossi Sarid - Minister of the Environment.
Thank you.