Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin, (1922-95). Israeli statesman and soldier. Born in Jerusalem, Rabin studied agriculture before beginning a military career. He commanded a brigade in Israel’s War of Independence (1948-49) and thereafter rose steadily through the ranks. As chief of staff (1964-68) he masterminded Israel’s swift victory in the Six Day War (1967). In 1974 he became leader of the Labour Party and Israel’s first native-born prime minister. Although he won acclaim for ordering the audacious rescue of Israeli hostages held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976, he resigned a year later following a financial scandal. As defence minister (1984-90) he was criticized for his tough handling of the Palestinian uprising known as the intifada (from 1987). In 1992 he led the Labour Party back to power and began a second term as prime minister, 18 years after his first. The following year he signed a peace agreement with Yasser Arafat of the PLO, under which Israel allowed the Palestinians autonomy in the West Bank and Gaia Strip. For this he was awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Arafat and Shimon Peres: An ac-cord with Jordan was signed later that year. Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist on 5 November 1995, shortly after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv. His murder caused profound shock and grief throughout Israel.
