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3. Yitzhak Rabin: Oslo Accords Architect Assassinated 30 Years Ago

On November 4, 1995, in Tel Aviv, three gunshots ended the life of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, plunging the nation into shock. On what was then Kings of Israel Square, now Rabin Square, the architect of the Oslo peace process fell, struck by the bullets of an ultranationalist Israeli Jew. The assassin, Yigal Amir, a far-right student, believed that concessions to the Palestinians threatened Israel’s future. Rabin was rushed to Ichilov Hospital, where he died an hour later at the age of 73.

Arrested on the spot, Amir immediately claimed responsibility, saying he acted to “stop the Oslo betrayal.” Sentenced to life imprisonment, he remains behind bars. This political assassination left a profound mark on Israeli society, exposing its deep divisions and fears.

From War to Diplomacy

Rabin embodied the discipline and strength of a generation born with the State of Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1922, he joined the Palmach, the elite unit of the Haganah, at a young age, and dedicated his life to defending his country. In 1967, as Chief of Staff, he led the Israeli army to a swift and decisive victory in the Six-Day War, securing Israel’s borders and establishing himself as a national hero.

From 1968 to 1973, Rabin served as Israel’s ambassador to Washington, building strong ties with the United States and gaining essential diplomatic experience. In 1974, he became Prime Minister, succeeding Golda Meir, before leaving office two years later. When he returned to lead the government in 1992, his perspective had evolved. The seasoned military leader recognized that Israel’s security could no longer solely rely on force; peace had to become the nation’s new strategy.

The Oslo Accords: Extending a Hand to Arafat

In 1993, after months of secret negotiations in Oslo, Norway, Israelis and Palestinians reached an unprecedented agreement. For the first time, Israel officially recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, while the PLO acknowledged Israel’s right to exist in peace and security. The accords created a Palestinian Authority to gradually administer parts of the West Bank and Gaza and called for a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces. They also set the stage for future negotiations on the most contentious issues: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, and final borders.

On September 13, 1993, on the White House lawn, Rabin shook hands with Yasser Arafat (Palestinian political leader and PLO chairman) under the watchful eye of President Bill Clinton. A gesture once thought impossible became the emblem of a historic turning point. In 1994, Rabin shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Arafat and Shimon Peres (Israeli statesman and former Prime Minister). Yet in Israel, opposition was fierce. Hamas attacks spread bloodshed, and right-wing extremists denounced Rabin as a traitor “selling the Land of Israel.” Hatred, fueled at rallies and plastered on posters, ultimately escalated to tragedy.

A Suspended Legacy

Thirty years after his assassination, the hand Rabin once extended to Arafat remains frozen in history. Settlements have multiplied, mistrust has deepened on both sides, and power struggles prevail. Peace seems stalled.

In a Middle East once again fractured, as fear and violence resurface, one question endures: can Rabin’s courage, the belief that peace is worth every risk, still find a place today?