Murder in the name of God: the plot to kill Yitzhak Rabin

by Michael; Friedman Ina Karpin

'This book deserves to be read by anyone who wants to understand the complex and dangerous situation that still exists in Israel.' Sunday Times 'A well argued, factual and high;y disturbing investigation into the political cesspool of Israeli extremism and its rationalisation of incitement and cold-blooded murder.' Guardian On 4 November 1995 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a young student, Yigal Amir, an act which abruptly changed the course of Israeli politics. This is the first book to give a full account of the crime and the factors which led inexorably to its execution. Far more than a tale of an assassination, it is a powerful indictment of a society's failure to examine itself honestly and to bring its own worst enemies to justice. In a series of shocking revelations the book ranges beyond Israel to expose the extent of American support - financial and ideological - for the movement that produced Rabin's killer.

Genres: History, Jewish

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Rhuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karpin and Friedman's account of the vitriolic, rightist campaign against Yitzhak Rabin, culminating in his assassination, was so parallel to the "Anti-Obama Hate Machine" it's a wonder the former president of the US did not share Rabin's fate. Like the American Tea Party a well-orchestrated and covertly funded smear network, devoted to breaking its target politically and personally, achieved its aim all too well; and then was forced to back-pedal from the predictable results of its murderous ax-grinding. Especially noteworthy in this affair was the cad behavior of Benjamin Netanyahu: the same man who stood before the US Congress to repeat his role of professional bully and hatemonger re: Obama, and now stands as the Trump of Israel.

As for those critics who say this account whitewashes the Shamgar Commission, alleging the involvement of the Shabak security service among others: there's no doubt the right's campaign penetrated a sympathetic security establishment. The Israeli military and police have often looked the other way at rightwing antics and statements, while taking immediate repressive measures against leftist, peace or Arab demonstrations. How far this went toward laying the ground for Rabin's murder, to the point of a "plot", will never be known. But it would not in any event mitigate the responsibility for the rightist, Orthodox hate machine in legitimizing a climate of murder.

One silver lining is that this tragedy did not lead to Israel's complete loss of democracy in a military-national security state. Imagine what would happen to this country's already-fragile democracy, should our domestic machinery of hate result in more than a political corpse.

[Rachel Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed account of the complex historical and political climate surrounding the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.