Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
29 July
THE SAVAGERY OF AN ISRAELI PEACEMAKER
This day in 1993 was Day 5 of what the Sunday Times called Rabin’s “personal seven-day war in southern Lebanon”. Operation Accountability had so far killed at least 130 and sent hundreds of thousands of Lebanese fleeing. The seven-day bombardment was "expressly designed (Mr. Rabin himself announced) to render South Lebanon ‘uninhabitable’ and to create a tidal wave of refugees so huge that it would destabilise the government in Beirut and bend it to Israel’s will..."
وحشية صانعي السلام الإسرائيلي
29 يوليو
كان هذا اليوم في عام 1993 هو اليوم الخامس مما وصفته الصندي تايمز "حرب رابين الشخصية لمدة سبعة أيام في جنوب لبنان". قتلت عملية المساءلة حتى الآن ما لا يقل عن 130 وهجرت مئات الآلاف من اللبنانيين الفارين. "بصراحه (أعلن السيد رابين نفسه) ان تصميم القصف الذي استمر سبعة أيام 'لجعل جنوب لبنان غير قابل للسكن’ وخلق موجة نزوح ضخمة من اللاجئين لدرجة أنها ستزعزع استقرار الحكومة في بيروت وثنيها لإرادة إسرائيل ... "
"Late yesterday, he called off his personal seven-day war in southern Lebanon...Rabin’s War – Operation Accountability – has killed at least 130 and sent hundreds of thousands of Lebanese fleeing towards Beirut...Southern Lebanon had become a land without people...About 80 villages have been hit.". According to the London-based Middle East International (MEI) of 6 August 1993, the "majority of casualties were civilians. At least 55 towns and villages were very heavily damaged, including Nabatiya, a major regional center with a normal population of around 100,000."
Sunday Times, 1 August 1993, reported under the heading: Rabin's War
Rabin's long history of racist war crimes
Rabin treated all Palestinians who refused to obey their oppressor as enemies. As defense minister during the first intifada, he instructed troops to “break the bones” of Palestinians. The order was taken literally.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) film from 1991 focuses on the criminality and dishonesty of the KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund) but also interviews Rabin. See especially 12:55 to 17:00 showing how Rabin was responsible for war crimes of which he remained proud till his death.
Tributes to the "man of peace"
"He symbolizes many of the values that I, and so many of my Labor colleagues, admire most about Israel - a commitment to democracy, justice, liberty and progress," Tony Blair
"...deep sorrow at the tragic death of Yitzhak Rabin...no one has done more for peace in the middle east. Under Rabin's leadership, Israel took the historic decision to pursue land-for-peace and to cease her rule over the Palestinian people. That was a difficult decision, but a right and a brave one. The success of the peace process so far with the Palestinians, and with Israel's neighbours, is very much his achievement and his memorial." UK Tory Minister Heseltine
"On behalf of the Opposition, I echo the Deputy Prime Minister's words in paying tribute to Yitzhak Rabin...a man so committed to the cause of peace could be taken from us...He put away his gun and shook hands with his enemy. Yitzhak Rabin has laid the foundations for a lasting peace between Israel and her neighbours." UK Labour opposition John Prescott
Note:
Lothians Green MSP Robin Harper addressed a large 2006 demonstration in Edinburgh against Israeli war crimes during which he said the "Middle East needed peace makers of the calibre of Yitzhak Rabin."
