Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated by a right wing extremist because of his attempts to bring about peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It was one of the most effective political assassinations in history. (1/6)

@AOC

https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-withdraws-from-event-honoring-yitzhak-rabin/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Would Oslo have ended with two sovereign states side-by-side? We can never know. But it's as close as we've ever gotten. Which is why the pro-settlement extremists were so threatened. And why one took matters into his own hands in the worst possible way. (2/6)

Should Rabin be remembered as a perfect hero? Of course not. The condemnation of his military and political actions, including the "break their bones" command & allowing settlement expansion should be condemned. (3/6)

AND he took a major (& ultimately deadly) risk in making peace. If @AOC were to speak at a memorial for Yasser Arafat, some Jews would likely object based on PLO terrorist attacks. Both men were responsible for too many deaths. And both took a major risk in making peace (4/6)

Finally, it's worth noting that there has been a concerted effort by the Netanyahu govt to depoliticize Rabin's murder, incl ignoring Bibi's involvement in rally where mock coffin of Rabin was hoisted & kicking human rights groups out of major memorial event. (5/6)

That's because some want to ignore fact that there were once political leaders who didn't want to live forever by the sword. Right wing argues that since 2 states "failed" (bc of action of their own camp), solution is permanent occupation.

We can't give in to these voices (6/6)