Fifteen years ago … three leaders, united in their determination for change, stood together on the White House lawn. Along with King Hussein of Jordan and President Clinton, my father, Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel, signed the Washington Declaration, which brought to an end 46 years of belligerence between Israel and Jordan. …
The peace with Jordan, while cooler than its founders would have hoped, has held firm. The Oslo peace process with the Palestinians, however, which made the Washington Declaration possible, did not proceed as had been hoped. … But it would be a mistake to think the Israeli people lost the will or ability to make the difficult decisions necessary to achieve peace. In fact, the reverse is true. The central tenets of my father’s legacy are irreversible. …Today, even Binyamin Netanyahu, for years a fierce opponent, acknowledges the need for a two-state solution. …
Fifteen years ago is not ancient history. The symbolism of that day should inspire us. We live in a world of constant change that presents fresh opportunities for those who have the courage to take them. With a new U.S. president determined to promote the peace process, and a shared interest between Israel and the Arab world in containing the threat of radicalism, there may be such an opportunity today. It is time for politicians to show the leadership and courage of Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein. Access the full article>>
