Mt. Herzl, Jerusalem
6 November 1995
Eighteen years ago I was privileged to accompany President Sadat to Jerusalem. Old enemies exchanged words of peace, a long, often painful and, sometimes, dangerous peace process had begun. We knew that the road will be long and hard. Two years ago the Israelis and the Palestinians reach an agreement. This was followed by a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. The road to peace was not at an end, but the millstone had been passed.
Yitzhak Rabin had been one of the engineers of that road to peace. Today we meet in sorrow to mourn his death, but we should also rejoice at the grandeur of his achievements. Yitzhak Rabin was a man who knew war and worked for peace. He fought tirelessly for peace and reconciliation.
Yitzhak Rabin said in Washington two years ago that he had done what he had done so that our children and our children's children will no longer experience the painful cost of war. That goal should be our goal. That goal is the goal of the United Nations. On this tragic occasion I would like to extend my deepest condolence to Mrs. Rabin, to the people and governments of Israel.