THE assassination of Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish right-wing extremist marks one of the bleakest moments in the history of a region not short of tragedy and injustice.

Mr Rabin's death after a peace rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night realises a nightmare abounding with Old Testament resonations: brother slaying brother, Jew killing Jew.

Like most political murderers, Yigal Amir claimed God was on his side, and with the stupid tenacity of a man already damned, insisted that he had no regrets.

Perhaps one of the most sombre aspects of the incident is that, as a former soldier, Mr Rabin was a man of war who became a proponent of peace.

A similar process of psychological alchemy occurred in the mind of long-time foe, but recent ally Yasser Arafat, who also embraced the ideal of peaceful negotiation.

The two leaders had both the insight and the courage to conclude that this was not the best but the only way forward.

It now rests with the the Israeli and Palestinian people, together with the whole international community, to ensure that there is no retreat in the peace offensive.

Its architect, Shimon Perez, who will succeed to power, could write Mr Rabin no finer epitaph than to forge ahead, using this appalling deed to gain momentum rather than lose it.

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