15 years ago today, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in Tel Aviv by the assassin, Yigal Amir, a right-wing religious Zionist who opposed Rabin’s peace initiative and particularly the signing of the Oslo Accords. 15 years later, peace still elusive as ever, with Foreign Secretary William Hague warning that “the window is closing” on the possibility of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
He expressed concern that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians had stalled over the issue of renewed building in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. stating that both sides had obligations, but that it was largely up to Israel to break the impasse.
“We do want Israel to announce a new moratorium on settlements… That is what the whole of Europe wants, that is what the United States wants,” he said.
“We do urge all concerned to do what is necessary to allow a two-state solution to come about. I am very worried that the window is closing on that possibility, there is a real urgency to this,” he added.
The Palestinians – backed by the Arab League – have pledged not to return to direct talks without a full settlement construction freeze, but have given US negotiators until early November to try to break the impasse however Israel has refused to renew the freeze despite international pressure.
15 years later and nothing has changed. Israel, how many more have to die before peace is realised? Are you not ready to do what it takes for peace? Palestine and Israel, you need to sort this, do you not want to live in peace?
15 years ago,
The peacemaker slaughtered,
An earthquake shakes the earth to the core,
Peace is slaughtered by perpetual war.
15 years later,
The earth still fractured, gaping wound
Build a bridge across the chasm,
Rise again, leave behind the wounds of hate,
Embrace his message, talk I beg you,
Embrace peace before its too late!
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