 27 years have passed since the murder. It seems that not much has changed, not enough has changed, when again and again alarming signs of incitement and escalation of violence that undermines the foundations of democracy are revealed in Israeli society. Signs that point to a deep fundamental difficulty in our ability to manage controversy, in our ability to overcome and navigate our country and our lives together, even in the reality of disagreement on the issues dearest to our hearts. The election campaign, another election campaign, is already behind us. Once again accusations of treason were thrown into the air, and again comparisons to Nazis were heard. And once again the public space, including social networks, was filled with dangerous violence. This is the time to lower the flames and show responsibility to the leaders of the Israeli public from across the spectrum. From the expected coalition and the expected opposition, I call and request we have attacked enough, we have fought enough. So for more, we now go to Jerusalem, our Middle East correspondent, Alec Pallard is at Mount Herzl National Cemetery. So Alec, it's a somber day as the country remembers the murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The President and outgoing Prime Minister are set to speak. What else is planned for today's memorial ceremony? Right, as you mentioned, the President and the outgoing Prime Minister will be speaking here soon. We also saw several other lawmakers, like Defense Minister Benny Gantz and others from the center-left parties and also some from the liquid party, who will soon be the ruling leading party in the country and the ones running the coalition. Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is not coming here, he's busy with his coalition building discussions and negotiations, but also there is always on this day, which has become very politicized, those accusations that are against Netanyahu, saying that he was one of the people who led to that insightful environment against Rabin that led to his assassination. So whether he comes to such a ceremony or doesn't come, he will always be facing that criticism. Also, it should be noted that the family members of the Yitzhak Rabin will not be taking part in the ceremony, which is somewhat unusual. They put out a statement saying that out of respect for the democratic system and in order to not be dragged into the political battles that are taking place, we decided not to speak at the ceremony, although it should be noted that those family members often make those speeches very political, and that is something that perhaps they just chose to avoid and not be speaking at the ceremony if they cannot make those kind of statements. Thank you so much. We'll be coming back to our Middle East correspondent, Alec Pallard, at Mount Herzog National Cemetery in Jerusalem. Now for more, our senior diplomatic correspondent, Owen Ultiman, is here in studio, and there is so much to discuss right now. I want to start with that rather ominous message we heard from President Isaac Herzog just moments ago, talking about the comparisons between the political climate 27 years ago and today. Well, first of all, obviously, all of us looking at the pictures in our screens of the ceremony getting started. Another somber Israeli moment, obviously, 27 years ago, Benita, when this happened, an important milestone, an important moment in Israel's history, and every year the country comes in year in and year out with a series of events to honor the memory of Itzhak Rabin, and just as importantly, Benita, to speak up against the issue of political violence and of the incitement that can lead to it. And you're absolutely right. Obviously, hearing those words from President Herzog is something that is a useful reminder for all of us. Of course, the amped-up rhetoric is an issue in democracies around the world. Israel certainly included in that list, and it's certainly an obstacle for all of us who live here. It's certainly coming after an election campaign. And a result that, while decisive, is also, in a sense, divisive, because those who didn't vote for this government and don't support it feel excluded, feel the country slipping away from them, and those who are on the winning side may have felt similarly when their side hadn't won, as happened in the elections last year. At any rate, an emotional ceremony promises to be, again, as Alex said, without the family members from the Rabin family, but certainly with other speeches that we'll have been taking note of. And given exactly that, that the family normally does speak, and it usually is quite heated and understandably so as well, what do you make of the fact that they are choosing right now not to speak at the ceremonies on this day? Right, of course, and we hear faintly the bugles playing in the background from the ceremony and not heard so again as the army guard continuing to be up there just before the speeches start, again, honoring Yitzhak Rabin himself. Of course, Panita, a former chief of the Israeli military. I am one who welcomes the fact that the family will not be speaking. Alec alluded to it, the family's speeches were often very politically and politically directed and politically motivated in a sense. And a ceremony where that wasn't really supposed to be part of the program. I think at its best, the memory of Yitzhak Rabin and of course, the memory of what happened to him is something that should cross political lines and unite the Israeli public. Obviously there's a political angle to this, right? The incitement and ultimately the violence itself came from the political right. It did not come from the political left. The political left here was a victim. And that is an important point to mark, but I don't think that this ceremony is the place. A state ceremony at the state's leading cemetery on Mount Herzl. I think this is the place for messages that are more unifying. And as Alec said, it was often awkward for then Prime Minister, soon again to be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there at the podium. Or sitting in the audience and he was being attacked when he couldn't really have the opportunity to respond to the ceremony like this one. And I thought it was unfair for the family members to use that advantage that they had. At any rate, it'll be interesting still to see what outgoing Prime Minister Eir Lapid has to say on this moment. Whether his message will be one that is more statesman-like or be more political or somehow straddle the balance between the two. Will be his only opportunity to speak as Prime Minister unless, of course, he's able to get to the Prime Minister in a position at a later date. Talk to us specifically though about the actual legacy of Yitzhak grabbing so much is made about the political climate right now and comparisons to 27 years ago. But he leaves his very own unique message and legacy for this country. Right, and as of course we hear again faintly the words of the Khadish, the traditional Jewish prayer of mourning or one of them being recited again. This is a cemetery. This is a memorial event and that is also being observed. Yitzhak Rabin Benita was one of the more credible spokespeople for the Israeli left along the long trajectory of the Israeli left. The former again head of the Israeli military who bought the gravitas and the credibility of coming from that position and used it to, as he saw it, further the cause of peace with the Palestinians. Of course, steps that were very, very controversial in Israeli society and there certainly was a very heated argument. And again, very sadly, the heated argument spilled over into incitement and later the violence that killed him. But his legacy is of someone who continued to move forward and stand up for what he believed in. Again, which may have been correct, may have been mistaken, there's, of course, a debate that's still ongoing in Israeli society, even as the promise of peace, in a sense, has receded in the 27 years since, because of all that has happened since. But Yitzhak Rabin was a unique kind of leader and also tend to forget. A link back to Israel's founding generation. Someone who, again, fought in Israel's war of independence. We can maybe hear faintly the El-Malerahamim Memorial Prayer. Again, one of the other memorial prayers in the Jewish canon. Again, a ceremony in the cemetery in memory of the slain former Israeli Prime Minister. President Isaac Herzog is one of the speakers who is set to address mourners in a short while. When that does happen, we will go to Jerusalem. But I want to speak about the message he gave just a short while ago from his own residents and in his words, this is the time to lower the flames and show responsibility to the leaders of the Israeli public from across the spectrum, from the expected coalition and the expected opposition. I call and request, quote, we have attacked enough. We have fought enough. We have cursed enough. What do you make of that message right now before this ceremony? Listen, he's trying to calm the tempers. Again, after a very heated election campaign, his election campaigns tend to be. Again, there's a feeling on the political side of the political spectrum that did not win this time that their country is slipping away from them and that they feel marginalized by this up-and-coming political elite that has a very different way of looking at the world and way of looking at the country than they do. And people are obviously very upset and feel like they're on the defensive. And of course, we can't forget, Benita, that those who are taking power feel that for many decades they've been on the defensive from an establishment that they weren't part of, that they felt excluded from, and they felt it was actively excluding them. So I think the message of inclusiveness and trying to see the other side's perspective is something that needs to be said and that can uniquely be said by an Israeli president. And again, those may be the messages we will see shortly from the podium at this event. Again, it's always a balance between messages that are more statesmen-like and unifying and the temptation of those on the left side of the political spectrum to have a more pointed political message. And it is true, again, the violence came from the right. It didn't come from the left. I do think, though, that at this moment in time, at this ceremony, the emphasis should be on messages that unify and focus on the threat of political violence and try to bring the country together rather than land political blows. And we certainly will be watching to see exactly what those messages are, both from President Isaac Herzog and outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid as well. Interesting, though, we can't ignore that earlier on this day, Benjamin Netanyahu already making calls in his own consultations with potential coalition partners. President Isaac Herzog is going to be meeting with faction leaders in the coming days. Talk us through the process that will unfold this week. That's right, of course, that's still moving forward. And by the way, we should mention that two of the characters surrounding the Rabin assassination, of course, still with us in our political life today here at Benidah and our front and center, one, of course, Benjamin Netanyahu at the time opposition leader, soon to become Prime Minister, of course, no one knew it at the time, but less than a year later, about seven, eight months later, becoming Prime Minister, and each of our Ben Dvir himself. And you mentioned at Benidah at the top, right? Stealing that insignia from the car carrying Rabin and so himself, a kind of character surrounding the drama. It's the two of them who are now at the center of our political life. But right, Benjamin Netanyahu already starting to hold those consultations with party leaders and faction leaders to try to feel out what their opening bids are, at least, in terms of ministerial portfolios and policy positions in order to be signed up as part of the coalition. At any rate, the final results are still to be delivered, a little shortly be delivered in the coming days to President Isaac Herzog. And then Wednesday, he'll start his, we were expecting two days' worth of consultations with the leaders of each of the political parties, each coming in a delegation by delegation. The process that, and this is a tradition started by former Prime Minister Rubin Rivlin, to be televised live each of those meetings as a part of transparency from the President's residents. And once Isaac Herzog has heard from all the parties, he'll know which person gets the most recommendations to be given a mandate to form a government. In this case, it hasn't always been true over the last few years, but in this case, of course, no suspense. Obviously, we're expecting Benjamin Netanyahu to get the nod given the election results. And once he is formally given the mandate by the President, Netanyahu is 28 days and then another possible 14 days to put that coalition together. You made mention of a personality in the form of Itamar Ben Gavir, who, of course, was active 27 years ago and very much active on this day right now. He's putting his hat in the ring for internal security minister. Talk to us about the likelihood of that and the chances of him getting any ministerial position. If it's not the one he wants, what is it likely to be? What are the pundits saying? Well, listen, that's what he says, said he wanted and Benjamin Netanyahu, again, was set up before the election and Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled it out. This is Itamar Ben Gavir's signature issue. At least was his signature issue over the course of the campaign clearly resonated with a lot of people, both because of the riots in mixed cities during the course of the Gaza military campaign in 2021 last year, a set of events that left a marked impact and a lasting impact, Neta, on the country and particularly the residents of those mixed cities that were most directly affected. So that is of course an element. There's the element of the feeling in the southern part of Israel where farmers feel that they are under attack from the local Bedouin population and so Ben Gavir will want to address that as well. And of course the ongoing security situation in the streets of Jerusalem and in other parts of the West Bank that we've talked about so much over the course of the past few weeks. In some cases that's more the role of the military and less the role of internal security but anyway wrapped up as part of this issue. So this is the ministerial portfolio that Ben Gavir has targeted. He is continuing by all accounts to want that portfolio given his showing in the elections. Numerically it's the kind of position that usually given this kind of political strength it is credible to ask for and get. Of course you're right in the case of Ben Gavir given his personal history and the controversy that surrounds him is this something that Neta Gavir will be wanting to do or will be willing to do. Ben Gavir of course comes at it from a strong position. He is reported also to want beyond the portfolio itself work tools as it's said in Hebrew working tools meaning more money for the police, higher salaries, more positions and most controversially Ben Gavir and Ben Gavir has been very clear about this including during the election campaign loosening the rules of engagement for police officers. That of course promises to be hugely controversial and will be interesting to see what positions are taken once the particulars of his proposal are rolled out and how that is seen or not seen as matching internationally human rights law. Then he write this is the portfolio that Ben Gavir wants he'll want at least one additional one for his sub-faction within the religious Zionism list. Will he get the position is something that will have to be negotiated but there seems at least a reasonable chance that he will and also reportedly according to his channel 12 news Ben Gavir also seeking professional consultation from professionals within the police and in the military to give him a sense of gravitas and expertise and to try to continue the momentum so he's taking the position not only out of a position of political strength but also with some professional backing behind him. So again, something to watch. We certainly will be watching all those consultations in the week ahead. A lot of focus as well obviously after this recent election about the showing of the left merits is out. We look at labor and how it did. We look at Merav Machaeli pointing fingers elsewhere. We're going to come back to this afterwards. Right now we go to Jerusalem. President Isaac Herzog is about to speak at Mount Herzog. Let's take a listen on this day. The dear and beloved Robin family, Prime Minister Yael Appied, Chairman, Speaker of the Knesset, Nikil Aghi, the president of the court, Esther Chayut, the 10th president, Rovyn Rivlin, distinguished guests. 27 years have passed and still it is difficult to believe. 27 years to the assassination that has changed the face of these racists. 27 years to the most serious attacks that Israel has seen. How else can you call a blooded murder of a prime minister, of the chief of staff of the IDF, United Jerusalem, a monstrous terror attack against an entire society, a murder that has no forgiveness, a murder that has no forgiveness, a murder that has stained the history of the state of Israel, the Jewish and democratic state. Distinguished guests, in 1994, Robyn said the following statements. And I quote, we are at one of the most important hours of the Jewish people. We are at a process of shaping the Jewish people and the country for generations to come. This is a time of serious debates, but we must know that the decisions will not change the love of Israel. And in front of us is always the old saying, all Israel are for each other. We do not forget one moment that whether you support our moves or against them, we are all brothers with one destiny. So said, it's Hakrabin, the reason these things ring in our ears today as if they were written yesterday is the fact that they embody an eternal truth, the Jewish history from the promised land to Egypt, from Sinai, from Judea to Israel, from the return to Israel, from our homeland, abroad and back, has been and always been stained in crossroads in which we must choose our path, choose that old saying quoted by Robyn as will be quoted in the future. All of Israel are for each other. In with his gun and the three bullets, the murderer has betrayed this sacred value. He betrayed us with the closing of the eyes and with apathy, this sacred value has been violated. If there's one thing that I fear is that we make life easy for us, it was clear for all of us that standing and saying that the lesson is that the Prime Minister should not be murdered, that's making it easy for us. It is clear for us that violence undermines the basis of democracy. And even that is easy to say. It is not enough. In my view, the main lesson of this important day is to remember again and again our foundations as a democratic and Jewish country, to remember the need to contain differences, even those who think differently, even those who believe and voted differently, not to make it easy for us, not to erase any person, any community erasing is erasing the legitimacy. Erasing is accusations of betrayal or accusations to the Nazis. Any violence, we must not make it easy for ourselves. We must understand that the only way, the only way to face the disagreements is just to sit around the same table, to speak together and act, even when it's difficult, even when our head is blowing from hearing someone else's stance. Differences is such a basis, value of Judaism and democracy. I wonder, how did differences become a negative word? It is time to change this, and we are able to do so. Distinguished guests, fate has brought us here during an unprecedented political crisis in the history of the state of Israel. Now, after the end of a fifth election campaign, we are at the crossroad. The question that we must face, citizens and leaders, as one, is how do we choose ourselves? This is not about agreeing. The mutual responsibility is not making life easy for us. And I know how difficult it is sometimes. A disagreement that turns into hatred is breaking that value. Incitement is against this, recognizing the political rival as an enemy, is breaking that value. At this time, on this sacred mountain, where so many are buried who gave their lives for this state of Israel, next to the grave of the hero of the state of Israel, Isaac Rabin, I ask and I beg for unity for a Jewish and democratic Israel. I call on the leaders and say, in this critical moment, we are able to make the right turn. The eyes of the public are looking up at you. And this is your time as leaders. It is easy to speak about mutual responsibility in festivities. It is not brave to listen to people who feel the same as you. Now that the ballots are closed and the votes were counted, we must put the mutual responsibility at the top priority from here, continuing only together. Let me stress, the complicated political situation in Israel puts a challenge in front of us, a historical challenge. The results of the elections shows that we are divided. Now all political players and particularly those who come at the top, those who have the political power, must have the responsibility to speak to those who are different in their opinions and tell them, you are our brothers and sisters. I call all the winners and tell them what I told their political rivals over the past year. You shouldn't leave, avoid the political views that you have, but be respectful. Be respectful to each other. Listen to their needs and their pains and their dreams. Remember, the elections are not to some zero. Do not fear reaching a compromise to prevent a divide. To the losing camp, I say, the country is not devastated. Respect the democratic choice. Continue to fight for your views like any healthy democracy to all our brothers and sisters abroad, to all of those who sound alarm bells. I make it clear, we are all obliged to the destiny of the state of Israel, to the basic values of a democratic and Jewish state that maintains the rule of law, human rights, and respect for every minority. We will continue to guard our fundamentals as a people and as a state. The beloved Rabin family, Michal and myself, were honored to know it's Hakan Lea personally. We loved and respected them very much. At the murder of Rabin, an entire world was lost, but the greatest void has been opened in your hearts. I'm certain that the memory of Itzhak as well as Lea, the beloved Lea, live with you and inside you. And the years that have passed do not change the pain. On this day, even on this day, throughout the entire year, our hearts are with you. May the memory of Itzhak and Lea, Rabin be blessed and may their work for the state of Israel be in the hearts of the nation forever. I thank you very much for being here today. President Isaac Herzog speaking at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, at the memorial service for Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin, 27 years since he was killed at a peace rally in Tel Aviv, speaking about the cold-blooded murder, a monstrous terror attack that he says had stained the Jewish democratic state, talking also about the main lesson to remember being the country's foundations, also saying Israel is at a crossroads right now after its fifth election in under four years and he is begging for unity. Still with me in studio, our senior diplomat, a correspondent, Owen Ultiman, a moving speech, what stood out for you? Yeah, obviously, Benita, on one hand, the notes that we would come to expect and we would expect at a ceremony, judges, this one addressing the way the subject, that's an issue, right? Calling for unity, calling for everyone to calm down with the political rhetoric. But of course, a kind of twist coming as it does only days after the election, right? Talking, speaking to the victors and asking from them magnanimity and not triumphalism, speaking to the losers and asking from them determination and dedication to keep participating in the political process rather than sourness on the one hand or fear on the other. To say the least, I don't think that captures the public mood on either side of the political spectrum, that's not where either side is. But Isaac Hurts, I'll get least, charting a path for each to get there and setting those out as destinations to which they should go. Of course, it's gonna be up to the wider society to take up the mantle and do that. Like we're about to hear from Prime Minister or still Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, and see if he responds and to what extent he responds to Isaac Hurts' call. And what he says as the leader of the nation, also as leader of his political bloc, if he speaks to them. And if and when we hear from Benjamin Netanyahu, later on in the day or in the days to come, what he has to say to his political bloc. And if he picks up this mantle of asking magnanimity from them rather than triumphalism, will of course be the points that we're gonna be waiting to hear from each of the two leaders. And also interesting to hear him talking about that the solution going forward is about sitting around the table and speaking together and that differences shouldn't be a problem. We are watching right now Yair Lapid, the outgoing Prime Minister of Israel, about to speak. Let's go back to Mount Hurts' The distinguished guests, dear Rabin family, Mr. President, as fate would have it, this commemoration for Isaac Rabin takes place only a few days after the state of Israel went to elections and returned from them again divided, again angry, again threatening to split into us and them. There is no us and them, only us. Rabin's murder was an assassination attempt on the very idea of shared life. We bravely barely survived it, but the wounds have not yet healed. It is our job to heal them every day. We're here together, religious and secular, right-wing, left-wing, centrist. The differences of opinion are deep. They are real, sometimes necessary, but above all, we have a shared responsibility. The IDF is all of us. The police is all of us. The legal system is all of us. The Bible is all of us. An absolute majority of the country's citizens believe in the rule of law, democratic values, and mutual respect. The absolute majority of Israelis want a Judaism that unites us, not Judaism that is a political tool, and certainly not a Judaism that is an endorsement of violence. The absolute majority of Israeli citizens are not ready to let hatred rule their lives. Not ready to hate their neighbors, those who served with them, those who sit with them at the Shabbat table. We have to decide now, at this moment, where the country is going. We are close to the point of no return, but it's still in our hands. We can still change. Reality is not an inevitable result of demography and geography. It is a result of choices that we make. The government, headed by me, lost in the elections held last week. I'm not going to waste my life hating whoever won. I'm not getting ready to turn my back on those who didn't choose us. Those who believe in Israeli democracy when they win should also believe in it when they lose. There is no scenario, no situation, in which we will enter the new government. We will fight from the opposition for our worldview and for the values of a huge public that elected us. We will fight until we return to power. This is also Robin's legacy. It's also part of his biography to never give up on what you believe in. If, in the meantime, the elected government does good things for the citizens of Israel, we'll support them. We will be an opposition to the government, but we will never be an opposition to the state. On Tuesday night, there were many sad people who thought and said that this is the end of the country. They're wrong. Just as wrong were those who said that after Robin's murder, just as wrong as those who shouted it when we formed the government. At the same time, I do not suggest that the new government takes these responses slightly. This is real pain of people whose dreams have been shattered. This is the anxiety of people who feel there is an attack on the way of life and the values that are important to them. The correct response is not despair, but to fight for these values. It's Hakra bin was a soldier in the peace army. I am a soldier in the army of democracy. This is the war of the era. We will protect the Israeli democracy and guard it. We will protect the rule of law, the independence of the court, human dignity for the declaration of independence, promise of complete social and political equality of all its citizens without distinction of religious race, sex, freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, culture. Our democracy may not appear in scripture, but this ceremony is a reminder that our democracy is sanctified in blood. It's Hakra bin was murdered by those whose violent incitement made him believe that he should not accept the voter's decision. This, too, we must remember and not forget. It would be an insult to this place. It would be an injury to Rabin's memory and the memory of all of those on this mountain. If we continue the destructive addiction to the division of us and them, there's no us and them. At the graduation ceremony of officer's course, there's no us and them at the Saturday night or when we stand together at the line, there's no us and them when, on hundreds of screens, appears the picture of smiling 18-years-old Noa Lazar of Emek Hafer, who could have been our daughter but was killed defending our lives. We owe it to her. We owe it to Israq Rabin not to give up, never give up, to fight for the common good. Don't let this country disintegrate into angry tribes. I'm not ready for this country to collapse under infighting and hatred, because I know how it ends. It ends with three gunshots. It ends here, in the ceremony, in this place. There is no point in this commemoration. There's no point in this day if we don't learn something from it, if we don't learn the lessons. The thing we must learn from Rabin's life and death is that love of the homeland is first and foremost. The love of the people who live with you in the same homeland may be of blessed memory. Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid with strong words and a powerful.