1995

Allow me to say, I am also excited. I want to thank each and every one of you who has shown up here against violence and for peace. This government, at the head of which I have the privilege of standing, together with my friend Shimon Peres, has decided to give a chance to peace. Peace that will solve most of the problems of the State of Israel.

I was a military man for 27 years. I fought as long as there was no chance for peace. Today, I believe that there is a chance for peace, a big chance. We have to take advantage of it for those standing here, and for those not standing here, and they are many among the people.

I always believed that most of the people want peace, are willing to take a risk for peace. And you are here, attending this rally, proving it, together with many others who have not come here, that the people really want peace and object to violence. Violence is the erosion of the foundation of Israeli democracy. It should be condemned, uprooted, isolated. This is not just the way of the State of Israel. In democracy, there can be controversies, but the determination is made in democratic elections, as it was in 1992, when the mandate was given to us to do what we are doing and continue with it.

From here, I want to thank the President of Egypt, the King of Jordan, the King of Morocco, whose representatives appear here and express their partnership with us in the march towards peace. But above all – the people of Israel, in the three years of this government’s term, proved that peace can be reached, peace that provides an opening for a progressive society and economy. Peace is first of all in prayers, but not only in prayers. Peace is the aspiration of the Jewish people, a true aspiration. Peace is bound in difficulties, as well as pains. There is no way for Israel without pains. The way of peace is preferable to the way of war. He who is saying this to you was a military man and Minister of Defense and sees the pains of the families of IDF soldiers. For their sakes, for the sakes of our children and grandchildren, I want this government to exhaust every trace, every option, to promote and reach a comprehensive peace.

This rally must broadcast to the Israeli public, to the Jewish public in the world, to many, many people in the Arab world and in the entire world, that the people of Israel want peace, support peace, and for that, thank you very much.