2023-10-21 10:10:02
On the evening of November 4, 1995, 100,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv. It is the largest peaceful demonstration the country has seen in years.
The Israeli Prime Minister takes the podium, in front of a sea of people. Yitzhak Rabin, 73, thanks the crowd for being present in large numbers as he must implement a historic agreement that will recognize autonomy for Palestine. At 9:50 p.m., he walks down the podium and walks to his car. This is where the story will change.
An ultranationalist Jew, member of a small far-right group opposed to the peace process, emerges from the crowd and fires three shots. Yitzhak Rabin was injured in the spleen and spine. Rushed to hospital, he died at 10:30 p.m. The wish of small far-right groups has been granted: the man who wanted peace is dead.
It’s one of those rare moments in history where happiness and exaltation are followed by a precipice.
Élie Barnavi remembers this evening very well. Co-organizer of this demonstration in favor of peace, he attended the events from the terrace of Tel Aviv city hall. The writer, university professor and former Israeli ambassador to France, is also one of the last people to speak to Yitzhak Rabin before his assassination. He testifies to this very vivid and painful memory: “When I came down, we went to celebrate, having a bite to eat in a restaurant nearby and that’s when we heard the rumor spreading: there had been an attempt on Rabin’s life. We rushed home. We turned on the television and saw his driver and friend, collapsed on the hood of his car. We knew it was over“ he declares, looking moved.
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