(JTA) — On the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for advancing his vision of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin devoted his life to defending Israel,” Kerry said in a statement issued Wednesday. “Today, on this solemn anniversary, we express our profound appreciation for his contribution to the cause of peace. And we honor his vision that would create a better future for both Israelis and the Palestinians: two states living side-by-side in peace and security.
“Prime Minister Rabin was part of the generation that built the modern state of Israel, that made a desert bloom, that dreamed and willed a country to life and defended it in times of war. He dared to take risks for peace because he knew well the alternative, and believed it was essential for the future security and prosperity of Israel and of the region.”
Kerry said that recent violence in the region underscores the urgency of advancing Rabin’s vision. He said its viability is at risk.
“It is more important than ever that we remember his legacy. It compels us to keep trying. It urges us to never give up hope,” the secretary of state said. “In his memory, let us recommit to use our words and our actions to advance the cause of peace.”
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