III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 299 

Honoring the life, legacy, and example of former Israeli Prime Minister 

Yitzhak Rabin on the twentieth anniversary of his death. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 28, 2015 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. CARPER, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, and Mr. KAINE) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life, legacy, and example of former Israeli 

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the twentieth anniversary of his death. 

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin was born on March 1, 1922, in Jerusalem; 

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin volunteered for the Palmach, the elite 

unit of the Haganah, the predecessor of the Israeli Defense Forces, and served for 27 years, including during 

the 1948 War of Independence, the 1956 Suez War, and 

as Chief of Staff in the June 1967 Six Day War; 

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin served as Ambassador to the United 

States from 1968 through 1973, Minister of Defense 

from 1984 through 1990, and Prime Minister from 1974 


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•SRES 299 IS 

through 1977 and from 1992 until his assassination in 

1995; 

Whereas, in 1975, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the 

interim agreement with Egypt that laid the groundwork 

for the 1979 Camp David Peace Treaty between Israel 

and Egypt; 

Whereas, on September 13, 1993, in Washington, DC, 

Yitzhak Rabin signed the Declaration of Principles 

framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, also known as the Oslo Accords; 

Whereas, upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, 

Yitzhak Rabin said to the Palestinian people: ‘‘We say to 

you today in a loud and clear voice: Enough of blood and 

tears. Enough! We harbor no hatred toward you. We 

have no desire for revenge. We, like you, are people who 

want to build a home, plant a tree, love, live side by side 

with you—in dignity, empathy, as human beings, as free 

men.’’; 

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin received the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize 

for his vision and bravery as a peacemaker; 

Whereas, on October 26, 1994, Yitzhak Rabin and King 

Hussein of Jordan signed a peace treaty between Israel 

and Jordan; 

Whereas, on November 4, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated after attending a peace rally in Tel Aviv, where 

his last words were: ‘‘I have always believed that the majority of the people want peace, are prepared to take 

risks for peace . . . Peace is what the Jewish People aspire to.’’; 

Whereas Yitzhak Rabin dedicated his life to the cause of 

peace and security for the state of Israel by defending his 


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nation against all threats, including terrorism and invasion, and undertaking courageous risks in the pursuit of 

peace; 

Whereas, in the years following Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, successive United States Administrations have 

sought to help Israel and the Palestinians achieve a negotiated two-state solution that ends their conflict; 

Whereas today Israel and the Palestinian territories are the 

site of renewed terrorism and violence; 

Whereas the continuation and deepening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the absence of progress toward a twostate solution has contributed to suffering among both 

peoples, including being one of several factors driving the 

current terrorism and violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories; and 

Whereas today, more than ever, the leadership of Yitzhak 

Rabin can be a model for securing peace during a time 

of conflict: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commemorates the life and accomplishments 

3 of Yitzhak Rabin and extends its deepest sympathy 

4 and condolences to his family and the people of 

5 Israel on the twentieth anniversary of his death; 

6 (2) recognizes and reiterates its continued sup7 port for the close ties and special relationship be8 tween the people and Governments of the United 

9 States and Israel; 


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•SRES 299 IS 

1 (3) reaffirms its commitment to the process of 

2 building a just and lasting peace between Israel and 

3 the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples, 

4 living side-by-side in peace and security; and 

5 (4) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to 

6 quell the current outbreak of terrorism and violence, 

7 and to resume work toward a negotiated two-state 

8 solution ending the conflict once and for all. 

Æ 


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