Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and opposition leader Yossi Sarid addressed a special Knesset mourning session today. Prime Minister Sharon said,
\"This morning, our fellow minister and MK Rehavam Ze\'evi, Gandhi, may G-d avenge his blood, was murdered in Jerusalem by Palestinian terrorists. From his youth until the day of his death, Minister Ze\'evi took an active part in the campaign for the establishment of Israel - and in this campaign he fell... Minister Ze\'evi\'s achievements on behalf of the State of Israel were many: From his days in the Palmach that he joined in his youth; through his service in the IDF in which he served for over 25 years, reaching the rank of major-general; and through his service as an MK and a minister. The head of the \'Moledet\' [homeland] movement loved his homeland. His path was marked with milestones in the establishment of Israel and its struggles. Ze\'evi was one of the IDF\'s greatest staff officers and commanders... First and foremost, he was a consummate Zionist. I did not know anyone who had such a vast knowledge of the Land of Israel and its history as him. His contribution to settlement in the Land of Israel was considerable... This is a severe loss to the people and State of Israel. For me - it is also a personal loss. Gandhi was first and foremost a comrade: A comrade-in-arms and also a comrade to the belief in the nation of Israel\'s unequivocal right to its historical homeland.
\"Only despicable terrorists can dream of assassinating an elected official in a democratic state. Only a regime that wants to subvert the State of Israel, and that deeply opposes peace, can give shelter and support to murderers of this kind. The full responsibility falls squarely on Arafat, as someone who has controlled, and continues to control, terrorism, and as one who has not - to this day - taken even one serious step to prevent terrorism.
\"He knew that not taking steps against organizations such as Islamic Jihad would lead to terrible acts of murder, and the responsibility is fully his. We want peace with the Palestinian people, but there will be no compromises with terror. Never.
\"Minister Ze\'evi\'s legacy stands for holding fast to the soil of our historic homeland, as well as the determined, uncompromising war for the existence and security of Israel. We will wage all-out war on the terrorists, those who collaborate with them and those who send them.
\"His legacy we will fulfill; may G-d avenge his blood. Gandhi will be sorely missed by myself, and by everyone. I would like, on behalf of everyone, to express our condolences to Gandhi\'s great and special family. May his memory be blessed.\"
MK Yossi Sarid delivered a short speech in which he said, \"I would just like to say simply: I am simply destroyed by this murder... The base killers who perpetrated this deed deserve death, and there is no doubt that they wanted to drown our region in another bloodbath. We must make sure that we do not allow this to happen. The murder of Rehavam Ze\'evi places the PA in a grave test. It can no longer evade its responsibility. This test is immediate, and it cannot be pushed off. If the PA fails, the land will burn, and no one will be able to extinguish it. The Government of Israel also faces a test. Following the murder of Israeli Ambassador Shlomo Argov [in 1982], we even went out to war [Peace for Galilee, Lebanon]. But we must remember also the bitter end of that war, and we must remember its entire lesson.\"
Attending the special session were former President Ezer Weizman and former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife.
Last night, in what became his last public appearance, Gandhi strongly criticized Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for announcing his intention to negotiate with the PA and support the establishment of a Palestinian state, even though \"the terrorist attacks have not ceased for a second.\" Ze\'evi also had harsh words for Sharon\'s decision to withdraw IDF forces from the Hevron hills - a decision that led to the resignation of his party from the government. Sharon, said Ze\'evi, \"will be judged by history as the \'Herzl of Palestine\' for his efforts on behalf of a Palestinian state.\"
The funeral will leave the Knesset tomorrow at 3 PM for Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem.
\"This morning, our fellow minister and MK Rehavam Ze\'evi, Gandhi, may G-d avenge his blood, was murdered in Jerusalem by Palestinian terrorists. From his youth until the day of his death, Minister Ze\'evi took an active part in the campaign for the establishment of Israel - and in this campaign he fell... Minister Ze\'evi\'s achievements on behalf of the State of Israel were many: From his days in the Palmach that he joined in his youth; through his service in the IDF in which he served for over 25 years, reaching the rank of major-general; and through his service as an MK and a minister. The head of the \'Moledet\' [homeland] movement loved his homeland. His path was marked with milestones in the establishment of Israel and its struggles. Ze\'evi was one of the IDF\'s greatest staff officers and commanders... First and foremost, he was a consummate Zionist. I did not know anyone who had such a vast knowledge of the Land of Israel and its history as him. His contribution to settlement in the Land of Israel was considerable... This is a severe loss to the people and State of Israel. For me - it is also a personal loss. Gandhi was first and foremost a comrade: A comrade-in-arms and also a comrade to the belief in the nation of Israel\'s unequivocal right to its historical homeland.
\"Only despicable terrorists can dream of assassinating an elected official in a democratic state. Only a regime that wants to subvert the State of Israel, and that deeply opposes peace, can give shelter and support to murderers of this kind. The full responsibility falls squarely on Arafat, as someone who has controlled, and continues to control, terrorism, and as one who has not - to this day - taken even one serious step to prevent terrorism.
\"He knew that not taking steps against organizations such as Islamic Jihad would lead to terrible acts of murder, and the responsibility is fully his. We want peace with the Palestinian people, but there will be no compromises with terror. Never.
\"Minister Ze\'evi\'s legacy stands for holding fast to the soil of our historic homeland, as well as the determined, uncompromising war for the existence and security of Israel. We will wage all-out war on the terrorists, those who collaborate with them and those who send them.
\"His legacy we will fulfill; may G-d avenge his blood. Gandhi will be sorely missed by myself, and by everyone. I would like, on behalf of everyone, to express our condolences to Gandhi\'s great and special family. May his memory be blessed.\"
MK Yossi Sarid delivered a short speech in which he said, \"I would just like to say simply: I am simply destroyed by this murder... The base killers who perpetrated this deed deserve death, and there is no doubt that they wanted to drown our region in another bloodbath. We must make sure that we do not allow this to happen. The murder of Rehavam Ze\'evi places the PA in a grave test. It can no longer evade its responsibility. This test is immediate, and it cannot be pushed off. If the PA fails, the land will burn, and no one will be able to extinguish it. The Government of Israel also faces a test. Following the murder of Israeli Ambassador Shlomo Argov [in 1982], we even went out to war [Peace for Galilee, Lebanon]. But we must remember also the bitter end of that war, and we must remember its entire lesson.\"
Attending the special session were former President Ezer Weizman and former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife.
Last night, in what became his last public appearance, Gandhi strongly criticized Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for announcing his intention to negotiate with the PA and support the establishment of a Palestinian state, even though \"the terrorist attacks have not ceased for a second.\" Ze\'evi also had harsh words for Sharon\'s decision to withdraw IDF forces from the Hevron hills - a decision that led to the resignation of his party from the government. Sharon, said Ze\'evi, \"will be judged by history as the \'Herzl of Palestine\' for his efforts on behalf of a Palestinian state.\"
The funeral will leave the Knesset tomorrow at 3 PM for Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem.