A few days ago, I visited the Yitzhak Rabin Center for the first time.
I, too, went through an emotionally jarring experience, which awakened many emotions, as well as difficult memories from the period when the Oslo Accords were signed, just prior to the horrific murder of PM Yitzhak Rabin.
I came here to deal with the past, to look in the mirror that has been placed in front of me by others, so that I can see the historical picture as they do. I never felt blamed, and I am not coming to blame anyone. I came to listen and to have a discussion.
It's fine to argue, it's fine not to accept [what others say], but the conversation needs to be respectful, with both sides honoring the other. It needs to be based on belief in the inherent value of the Jewish people.
The Jewish nation includes rightist and leftists, religious and secular, and there are disagreements regarding almost every aspect of our lives. At the end of the day, however, we are one nation, and we must fight together for our revival, and we will fight together to support the Zionist enterprise in the Land of Israel.
Yes, even though we had disagreements during the time that Yitzhak Rabin was in office, and I was against the Oslo Accords, which he led us to, and we sometimes had very harsh disagreements - this man has great merits. He advanced the "settlement enterprise," helped unite Jerusalem, and worked to keep Israel safe.
This prime minister was murdered. No one argues that fact. And it's up to us - all of us - to learn the relevant lessons. I'm not referring to those lessons that the visitors learned, after their tour in the Yitzhak Rabin Center. No. I believe that every citizen of Israel should experience a visit to the Israel Museum in the center of the country. They should come, "to learn and to teach, to observe and to do," democracy in a way of peace. This is what I wrote in Israel Museum's guest book, as well.
I want to express my full appreciation to Dalia Rabin, daughter of the late Yitzhak Rabin, for taking it upon herself to bridge the communication gap between those living in the center of the country, and the Religious Zionist residents of Judea and Samaria.
This was written by Agriculture Minister and MK Uri Ariel (Jewish Home), for Arutz Sheva's Hebrew site.