Rabin did far worse things than the heavy handed attempt to suppress the first intifada. The expulsion of Palestinians from Lydda and Ramleh in 1948. Architect of the 1967 war and subsequent occupation of Sinai, Gaza, West Bank, and the Golan. And I can go on.
But, but >> https://twitter.com/alexbkane/status/1309238730583158786

Rabin took a huge risk in the 1990s, with the recognition of the PLO and the Oslo agreement; even a bigger risk by "relying on Arab votes", including Arab Palestinian members of Knesset in his de facto coalition. "You don't have a Jewish majority", said the right wing /2

Rabin was willing to treat Palestinian in Israel as meaningful citizens, with legitimate voice in decision making. In that he departed from all prime ministers that came before or after him. And for that small step towards democracy he paid with his life. 3/

So Rabin - despite many many things - is remembered positively by many Palestinian citizens of Israel (clearly not by all!) because he was willing to go on that journey, that could have led not only to Palestinian statehood but also to dismantling the racist structures of Israel.

Rabin should not be idolised. Oslo was deeply flawed; his neo-liberal policies had devastating long term consequences. But also we should not present him as no different to Israeli Prime ministers before or after him. There was a reason he was murdered.

For a longer take on why I think Rabin and Oslo did have *some* potential to lead to Palestinian statehood and Israeli democratisation, see my piece below (a review essay of @SethAnziska "Preventing Palestine") https://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org/israel-palestine-age-trump/

Also available in Arabic translation here: https://www.madarcenter.org/files/1367/--78/1679/------------.pdf