Where I Stand: Reviewing an interesting week in three Israels

Monday, Nov. 17, 1997 | 12:47 p.m.

TEL AVIV -- I HAVE JUST spent time in three different Israels. One Israel was honoring the late Yitzhak Rabin, who was murdered two years ago, and another was a political nation where the Likud Party held its convention. A third Israel was with working men and women who are daily carving out a living, defending their country and sending their children to school. These people are the heart and soul of a vital nation that provides the time and freedom to honor the dead and play the game of politics.

Well over 100,000 people and, according to some estimates, almost 200,000 people participated in a memorial rally in and around Tel Aviv's Kikar Rabin Square. They came to recall the promise Rabin had held for Israel before his death, delivered by a coward named Yigal Amir, who is now in prison.

The gathering, put together by the organization Shalom Haver, was a combination of Labor Party politics and an opportunity for thousands to express their sadness and for what they believe was a lost opportunity for peace. Shimon Peres, who became the Labor Party candidate after Rabin's death, told the crowd that the gathering was a signal they want a reopening of the way to peace. "We have no other country and we have no other way, except for Yitzhak Rabin's way," Peres exclaimed.

Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak, a popular politician, told the crowd that his party would fight to take the power back from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party. He pledged to take back the heart and confidence of the people and regain the "control over the ship without a captain." Signs scattered throughout the crowd were more specific and blamed Netanyahu for the loss of peace prospects.

Yes, the huge crowd was both a memorial and a political rally. The loss of Rabin seems to be even sharper today than it was two years ago. The Israeli people needed the rally for another opportunity for many to express their feelings and for others to feel less guilty for not speaking out against extremists before Amir shot Rabin.

The entire week provided opportunities to honor the lost leader. The official day of recognition included another gathering at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv and a memorial service on Mount Herzl. The day ended with a special session of the Knesset and a memorial in Tel Aviv's Performing Arts Center.

During this same period of time, Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to be fighting for his political life in a convention that had many of the same exciting elements of Nevada and U.S. politics. Several members of his own party took verbal shots at him but, in the end, he controlled the convention. Ha'aretz newspaper reported that the old warrior, Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon, told the audience that Netanyahu asked that he give him a hand. Sharon said, "I don't know whether to help your left hand or your right hand." Sharon was smiling when making these remarks, but his target stared straight ahead and showed no emotion during the entire speech.

When the convention ended, like most skilled politicians and cats Israel's prime minister landed on his feet. After hearing many delegates singing "Bibi, king of Israel" and giving him thunderous applause, he left the hall. The next day, he attended the memorial services for Rabin at Mount Herzl and flew to London for a series of meetings with world leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Across the countryside, my Israeli friends continued to load freight, pick fruit, build homes and patrol the dangerous border of Lebanon. Sgt. Major Shimon Sisso went to his duty station early in the morning, so he could spend the afternoon with Las Vegan George Brookman and me. The city of Ashdod seemed a million miles away from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Shimon greeted his wife, Michelle, daughters Karen and Ellen and son Zion. It was family time, and Shimon's mother had prepared vegetables and large loaves of fresh bread for dinner.

The world was watching what was happening in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. So was I, but now was the time to taste and feel those things that make Israel a vibrant nation of good people. Our conversation included some politics, but more important were the grades the girls were receiving in school. Then Karen brought out her English reader so we could practice and get ready for school the next day. The children use English, French and Hebrew with equal skill when visitors are in the home.

Late in the evening, we had to leave my favorite Israel and head back to Tel Aviv for a meeting with people involved with the workings of government.