“Mr. Chairman,” read the letter signed by the prime minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin sent to Yasser Arafat. “In response to your letter of September 9, 1993, I wish to confirm to you that, in light of the PLO commitments included in your letter, the Government of Israel has decided to recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and commence negotiations with the PLO within the Middle East peace process.”
The exchange of letters of recognition, followed by an uneasy handshake on the White House lawn, ended years of attempts at mutual negation by Israelis and Palestinians. The Declaration of Principles that was signed that same day and witnessed by President Bill Clinton has since failed, in part due to the assassination of Rabin by an Israeli extremist named Yigal Amir.
Now, nearly 30 years later, another Israeli extremist is negating what is stated about the Palestinian people while holding a top position in the Israeli government. However, this extremist is not only allowed to spew his hatred and incitement, but he is also able to execute policies as part of his special status in the government overseeing what happens in the occupied Palestinian territories.
