Speakers Pay Tribute to Rabin

The daughters of the slain Middle East peace advocates Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat joined yesterday at the Kennedy School of Government to pay tribute to Rabin.

Dalia Rabin Philosof and Camelia Sadat were part of a panel commemorating the sacrifices Rabin made for the peace process.

Philosof said the memory of her father and his work for peace will now last forever.

"I never thought my father was immortal--now he is," she said to the approximately 200 people in attendance.

Philosof said the current state of the peace negotiations makes clear the important role her father played.

"The peace process is grinding to a halt.... Only now can we see the extent of the loss," she said.

As a military hero, Rabin occupied a unique position of authority and respect, Philosof said.

"He used his position to become an indefatigable advocate for peace," she said.

Philosof praised the role of the U.S. government in assisting the peace process, singling out President Clinton.

"The United States spared no effort in bringing the warring parties together," she said. "Special appreciation should go to Bill Clinton, the master of friendly persuasion."

Philosof went on to say that the Israeli democracy needs to draw a line between civil society and its foes.

"Good men should speak out and keep silent no more," she said. "The barrel of a gun must not replace legitimate parliamentary opposition."

Camelia Sadat spoke of the simi- larities between Rabin and her father. Both were military heroes, strong advocates of peace, men of God and victims of assassins from their own country, she said.

Sadat said her father told her in 1974 that he strongly believed in a passage from the Koran which says that "if someone leans to peace, you must lean to them."

She said she included that anecdote in a letter congratulating Rabin on the progress of comprehensive peace negotiations for the Middle-East. She said his response included a quote from Isaiah which says, "They shall bury their swords."

Referring to the status of the peace negotiations, Sadat said Rabin and her father had not died in vain but had instead left a lasting impact on the process.

"Rabin and my father left me and Dalia with a great legacy, but they were fathers for every child who will be born in safety and without war," she said. "Their souls did not die; they are with those of us who continue to work for peace," she added.

Other panel members included renowned Israeli poet and author Haim Gouri and Williston Professor of Law Robert H. Mnookin '64, a negotiation specialist.

Rabin was assassinated just over one year ago

Sadat said her father told her in 1974 that he strongly believed in a passage from the Koran which says that "if someone leans to peace, you must lean to them."

She said she included that anecdote in a letter congratulating Rabin on the progress of comprehensive peace negotiations for the Middle-East. She said his response included a quote from Isaiah which says, "They shall bury their swords."

Referring to the status of the peace negotiations, Sadat said Rabin and her father had not died in vain but had instead left a lasting impact on the process.

"Rabin and my father left me and Dalia with a great legacy, but they were fathers for every child who will be born in safety and without war," she said. "Their souls did not die; they are with those of us who continue to work for peace," she added.

Other panel members included renowned Israeli poet and author Haim Gouri and Williston Professor of Law Robert H. Mnookin '64, a negotiation specialist.

Rabin was assassinated just over one year ago