HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 96-4741, by Representatives Murray, Chopp, Cody, Kessler, Mason, Tokuda, Quall, Costa, R. Fisher, Morris, Dickerson, Hatfield, Poulsen, Foreman, Conway, Scheuerman, Regala, Dyer and Cooke

      WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

      WHEREAS, Yitzhak Rabin demonstrated not only excellence, but also dedication, commitment, and courage in his position as Prime Minister of Israel, in trying to reach a permanent and lasting peace for Israel, and all of the Middle East; and

      WHEREAS, Yitzhak Rabin followed through on his promises for peace by signing the historic Israeli-Palestinian peace accords in 1993; and

      WHEREAS, In 1994, Yitzhak Rabin was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, along with Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres, for his efforts in the peace process; and

      WHEREAS, Rabin was the rare combination of warrior and statesman whose courage on the battle field was matched only by the bravery of his conviction to secure a true and lasting peace; and

      WHEREAS, His assassination last November shook the world, and left it robbed of another leader whose vision of peace was imperilled by one who knew only hate; and

      WHEREAS, In his death he truly was a martyr for peace; and

      WHEREAS, The world has lost a leader, a statesman, a soldier, a father, a grandfather, and above all a peacemaker.

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Yitzhak Rabin, a rare individual whose tragic death reminds us all of the price of peace, and whose courage and dedication serve as an inspiration to the citizens of the state of Washington; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich, Ambassador to the United States from Israel.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4741 adopted by the House of Representatives

                          March 4, 1996.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk