Both the lionizing and berating of Yitzhak #Rabin are misplaced.
Yes, he is the Israeli leader who made an agreement with the PLO--how'd that work out? But, yes, he tried.
He also said why, and it was a lot less noble than many think...

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Rabin, in September 1993 told an Israeli newspaper, that Arafat could better deal with keeping the Palestinians in line because he could operate "bli bagatz uvli B’tselem (without the High Court and without @btselem, the well-known Israeli human rights org).

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In other words, Rabin made a choice that he felt would help keep the Palestinians in line. He, crucially, never permitted mention of a Palestinian state, nor did he ever agree or acknowledge the idea that Palestinians were entitled or should have one.

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Nonetheless, Rabin broke the #Israeli taboo against dealing with the PLO (because he understood the PLO was very weak and would be compliant, but still). And, while limited Palestinian autonomy was not, as many think, a new thing when Rabin agreed to it in Gaza/Jericho...

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...his version of it did go further than earlier ideas (Israel tried to institute limited West Bank autonomy under puppet mayors in the 80s, and there were other minor efforts) and could possibly have been built on, if he wished. He never indicated whether he wished or not...

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...so anyone can write a narrative as they see fit.
Rabin tried new things to maintain Israel's supremacy and block Palestinian claims. He never acknowledged those claims. His concession was isolated, limited autonomy and recognition of the PLO as reps of the Palestinians.

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Those things are not insignificant, but they're not anything like what's claimed about him. I see Rabin as a leader who recognized changing times and tried to get the best deal for Israel and preserve its nature at the time. But he had no love for Palestinians.

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