Sir,

Your issue of Nov. 11th includes three articles on Yitzhak Rabin, former Israeli PM, who was recentely assassinated. None of these articles mention Rabin’s direct responsibility for war crimes, the extent of which exceeds anything committed by any Israeli national, living or dead. A detailed charge sheet can be ontained from me or consulted on the internet.

Yitzhak Rabin is presented as a brave man who choose the path of peace. No evidence is provided to substantiate such claims. Mr. Rabin in fact never deceived anybody about his vision of peace, his aims, his intentions. He repeatedly expressed his principled opposition to Palestinian statehood, the return of Jerusalem to the Palestinians, the right of return of Palestinian refugees and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. This opposition was not confined to rhetorics  “supposed to pacify the Israeli right” but translated consistently and forcefully by Mr. Rabin and his cabinet into wide-reaching decisions, policies and acts.

In accordance with Mr. Rabin’s “peace vision”, his government continues to expropriate Palestinian land on the West Bank and constructs a web of modern highways to link Jewish settlements, which we are told – tongue in cheek – that are due for evacuation in 3-5 years.

The agreements between Rabin and Arafat now provide Israel a sort of Palestinian authorization for policies aimed at permanent Israeli control of Palestine, its land and its water resources. The aim of the agreements is the creation – for the Palestinians – of several Israeli-controlled enclaves resembling South African bantustants. Israel’s frequent closures of the inhabitants of Gaza Strip and Jericho behind barbed wire reveal perhaps best the true nature of this “autonomy”.

The Palestinian people, the victims of this grand deception, will sooner or later shatter our complacency about their plight. Are we ready to blame them if they react violently when denied basic dignity, freedom and rights? When will truth, honesty and justice replace might and deception as the driver on the train to a lasting peace in Palestine?

Elias Davidsson, composer
Reykjavik, Iceland