1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 65
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Yitzhak Rabin.
Whereas, Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem in 1922; and
Whereas, during World War II, Mr. Rabin served as a member of the elite Palmach unit of the Haganah underground; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin fought for the independence of Israel as Deputy Commander of the Palmach and as Commander of the Har-El Brigade in the Israeli War of Independence; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin was named Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army in 1964 and commanded the defense of his homeland against the combined military attacks of Egypt, Syria and Jordan in the Six-Day War of 1967; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin was appointed Israel's Ambassador to the United States in 1968; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin became Israel's 5th Prime Minister in 1974; and
Whereas, Prime Minister Rabin signed the Egyptian-Israeli Disengagement Agreement of 1975; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin was named Minister of Defense in 1984 and balanced the role of peacemaker and peacekeeper by directing both the Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanon and the putting down of the Palestinian uprisings in Gaza and the West Bank; and
Whereas, Mr. Rabin was elected Prime Minister of Israel for the 2nd time in 1992; and
Whereas, Prime Minister Rabin took a historic step toward peace in the Middle East by signing the Self-rule Agreement with the Palestine Liberation Organization, voluntarily giving back territory won by Israeli forces under his command in the Six-Day War; and
Whereas, for his efforts in bringing a lasting peace to the Middle East, Prime Minister Rabin was awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize; and
Whereas, Prime Minister Rabin was killed by an assassin while encouraging his divided nation to choose a course that would lead to a peaceful future and to harmony with its Arab and Palestinian neighbors; and
Whereas, for 73 years Yitzhak Rabin was a soldier and statesman and patriot, an architect of Israeli independence, a fierce defender of his people and his land in war and a visionary for peace, a man skilled in the use of the sword, but bold enough to dream of a day when nations would beat their swords into plowshares, and courageous enough to ultimately give his life for that dream; and
Whereas, even in his death, Yitzhak Rabin has unified people and leaders from the Middle East and the world, challenging them to realize that the vision of peace cannot merely be the vision of one man but rather must be the vision and work of all people; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature salute the extraordinary life and work of Yitzhak Rabin, and in particular commend his courageous stand for a lasting peace, a stand for which he met a violent death; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Wisconsin legislature calls on the leaders of the Middle East and the leaders of the world to strive to ensure that Yitzhak Rabin's death may not have been in vain, but that his sacrifice will lead to the successful completion of a lasting peace accord in the Middle East and may stiffen the resolve of people of peace around the world; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Wisconsin legislature expresses its deep sorrow at Yitzhak Rabin's death and extends its condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Prime Minister Rabin's widow, Leah.
