Regardless Of What Rabin's Vision Was, He Will Be Remembered For His Legacy

Isi Leibler writes that it is time to Stop distorting Rabin's legacy. The Left is found of remembering Rabin as being dedicated to the Oslo agreements:

But contrary to what was frequently alleged, in all my private discussions with him he was never euphoric about Oslo, repeatedly describing it as a "gamble" that he felt obliged to put to the test. "If it fails," he said, "we will take everything back." In retrospect, I doubt whether he really believed that was possible.

...In his last Knesset speech on Oct. 5, 1995, a short time prior to his assassination, Rabin was adamant that, "We will not return to the June 1967 lines." Furthermore, in relation to the settlements, he said: "We committed ourselves before the Knesset not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim government and not to hinder building for natural growth." And he repeatedly vowed that he would never agree to divide Jerusalem.

Similarly, Eli Hertz asks, Have We Lost Sight of Rabin's Vision?

Today, sixteen years after signing the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty and 15 years after his tragic death, Yitzhak Rabin was lauded by President Barack Obama as a man of peace and courage, who "demonstrated that a commitment to communication, cooperation, and genuine reconciliation can help change the course of history." 

The following excerpts from Rabin's last public speech to the Knesset just days before he was murdered reveal Rabin's true realistic vision:

The Knesset (Parliament) October 5, 1995

"Here, in the land of Israel, we returned and built a nation. Here, in the land of Israel, we established a state. The land of the prophets, which bequeathed to the world the values of morality, law and justice, was, after two thousand years, restored to its lawful owners - the members of the Jewish people. On its land, we have built an exceptional national home and state.

"We view the permanent solution in the framework of [the] State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.


"First and foremost, united Jerusalem ... as the capital of Israel, under Israeli sovereignty.

"The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley ... The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

"We had to choose between the whole of the land of Israel ... and a state with less territory, but which would be a Jewish state. We chose to be a Jewish state.

"We ... committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.

"We are aware of the fact that the Palestinian Authority has not - up until now - [E.H., and never thereafter] honored its commitment to change the Palestinian Covenant, and that all of the promises on this matter have not been kept. I would like to bring it to the attention of the members of the house that I view these changes as a supreme test of the Palestinian Authority's willingness and ability, and the changes required will be an important and serious touchstone vis-a'-vis the continued implementation of the agreement as a whole."

Rabin's vision essentially incorporated the principles of Israel as both a Jewish state, and as a state living in "Peace within secure and recognized boundaries" as stated in UN Security Council Resolution 242.[emphasis in the original]

But when speaking of Rabin's legacy, his real legacy is the result of Oslo--just as the legacy of Sharon will be the result of the Disengagement, a legacy we are reminded of on a daily basis.

And in the end, it is the legacy--and not the vision--by which Rabin will be remembered.

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