Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: Rightists Award Student Who Persecuted 'Left-Wing' Teacher [View all]Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Rabin participated in ethnic cleansing, attacking and expelling the populations of Lydda and Ramle. Not just in 1948, but again in 1967, when he ordered the destruction of Emwas, Beit Nuba and Yalou. In 1988 he ordered Israeli forces to restore order in the occupied territories via force and beatings, recommending that Israeli soldiers break the arms, legs, and hands of protestors... which the soldiers did. In 1993 he ordered an indiscriminate assault against southern Lebanon, probably the largest operation since the initial invasion, driving over 500,000 people from southern Lebanon, including 90% of the population of Tyre.
I'm not someone prone to airbrushing out the warts of someone just 'cause they got assassinated. Lincoln had his own patch of war crimes under his belt. Kennedy sank us into Vietnam and damn near set off nuclear war because of his rabid anticommunism. And Rabin was a war criminal who made a point of targeting Arab civilians for destruction and mass reprisals.
I'm also willing to acknowledge his accomplishments and moves towards a better world in spite of that anchor dragging him down, as well.
Like I tried to get through to Dave, people are complex.