Episcopal Press and News

Presiding bishop's statement on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin

Episcopal News Service. November 9, 1995 [95-1307]

Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop and Primate

Like so people all over the world, I am deeply shaken over the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. The world has lost a courageous peacemaker, a man who lived as a soldier and fought and plotted against an enemy for over 40 years. But his true moment of glory and hardest battle began when he took up the cause of peace and uttered those profound words two years ago by reminding us that you don't make peace with your friends, you make peace with your enemies.

I was so elated to be present when he transformed those words into a spectacular reality as he shook hands with his old enemy, Chairman Yasser Arafat of the PLO, on the White House lawn in September, 1993.

During a visit to the Middle East in 1994, I met the prime minister in Tel Aviv, shortly after the Hebron massacre, and we shared our deep sorrow over that tragedy. And he stressed in that strong and articulate voice of his that no act of terrorism or violence could be allowed to derail the peace process. Now he is a victim of violence and a martyr for peace and his words become a challenge for those left behind to continue in his work.

His stature as a peacemaker is forever etched in history. And we will commemorate him through a relentless pursuit of a just peace for his people and for his former enemy. He gave his life to them both and a grateful world must honor his courage and complete the task.

My prayers and condolences are with his family and nation on this day and will continue until true shalom embraced between Arabs and Israelis and among Muslims, Christians and Jews so that we might give glory to the God of us all.