Several House and Senate Democrats are pushing for a resolution to commemorate 20 years to the November 4th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The partisan resolution, introduced to the Senate by Senator Dianne Feinstein, not only commemorates the life and accomplishments of Rabin but also “recognizes and reiterates its continued support for the close ties and special relationship between the people and Governments of the United States and Israel” and “reaffirms its commitment to the process of building a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in peace and security.”
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) signed on as co-sponsors.
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) introduced the resolution to the House of Representatives, with Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), and Earl Blumenauer signing on as co-sponsors. “Twenty years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed for trying to build peace. [He] gave his life to the heroic work of ending decades of war,” Rep. Ellison said in a statement. “The violence that killed Prime Minister Rabin stems from the same place as the violence we see today: the lack of two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in peace and security. We need Prime Minister Rabin’s courage now.”
Feinstein’s statement in the news release included the following line: “Today, with renewed violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories, his courageous leadership is an especially important model for all.”
Jewish Insider reached out to the offices of Ellison and Feinstein asking why the resolution has not been introduced in a bipartisan manner.
“We’re continuing to reach out to offices and are hoping to collect as many co-sponsors as possible,” Brett Morrow, a spokesman for Rep. Ellison, told Jewish Insider.
A spokesperson to Sen. Feinstein did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The effort to mark Rabin’s 20th anniversary with a push for renewed peace negotiations was also reflected in a petition that was launched by J-Street, calling on New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to “support Rabin’s vision” and “saying that honoring Rabin means more than just remembering, it means acting.”
This post originally appeared at Jewish Insider.
