English/Nat

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has appealed to President Assad of Syria to make peace.

Addressing a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, he said neither Israel or Syria should dwell on the past but should be prepared to compromise.

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres is in the U-S to secure congressional support for his efforts to relaunch a peace initiative with Israel's old adversary Syria.

He met with congressional leaders before his congressional address.

When he arrived at the joint session of Congress he received a standing ovation, but deflected the honour to his fallen leader, Yitzhak Rabin who was assassinated in November.

SOUNDBITE:

Mr. Speaker, all I have, I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. My senior partner is gone. Now he belongs to the ages. He will enter them as a great leader, as a great soldier, a captain of peace who was assassinated because he was right.

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister

He then took the opportunity to make his boldest appeal yet to Syrian President Hafez Assad.

He said the two countries should end decades of hostility to arrive at a comprehensive peace settlement.

SOUNDBITE:

I would like to use this podium, with your permission, ladies and gentlemen, to turn to President Assad of Syria and say to him, without forgetting the past, let us not look back. Let fingertips touch a new untested hope. Let each party yield to the other, each giving consideration to the respected needs of the other, mutually so, he to us, us to him.

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister

Peres hinted again at Israel's willingness to make territorial compromises, but stopped short of specifying withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

Assad has made a commitment to that a prerequisite for talks.

But the overwhelming message of his speech was an apparently sincere desire for reconciliation.

SOUNDBITE:

The end of conflict, carrying the message to our forefathers and to our grandchildren, that we are again, all of us, the sons and daughters of Abraham, living in a tent of peace again.

SUPERCAPTION: Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

His speech received unanimous approval among lawmakers.

Peres has also been trying to convince American Jewish leaders that his land for peace policy is right.

Washington D-C, USA. 12 December 1995

1. Peres with Dole and Gingrich

2. Peres walks in to Congress

3. SOUNDBITE: Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

4. Cut-away Dole

5. Cut-away Christopher

6. SOUNDBITE: Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

7. WS Congress

8. SOUNDBITE: Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

9. Standing ovation

10. Gore and Gingrich shake Peres' hand

11. Wide shot applause.

English/Nat

The U-S has told Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres it will assist him in seeking peace, saying there was a new opportunity to move towards peace between Israel and Syria.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher is to travel to the Middle East later this week to try to reopen negotiations on the Syrian front.

Peres met President Clinton and senior administration officials during his first visit to the U-S since the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

After his talks with President Clinton, Shimon Peres lead a procession of Israeli officials to America's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

It was just one of many important gestures Peres would made Monday during his first visit to the U-S since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

Like other Israeli leaders, Peres seeks to maintain the close tie with America.

He did get assurances from Clinton that the U-S would help Israel minimise risks taken for peace.

Even with that pledge, Peres made it clear that Israel would not risk peace with Syria - by giving up the Golan Heights - before they knew for sure what Syria was willing to give in return.

SOUNDBITE:

No we are not negotiating a mountain. We are negotiating a peace. In the peace prospect you have a mountain, but that is not the only existing phenomenon. And I think that what we have ready to discuss right now is that overall picture.

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister

Peres and other Israeli's recognise this is a critical time in the peace process - a window of opportunity that may never come again.

SOUNDBITE:

Now we'll come to the real test. Shimon Peres has very high credibility, of being a man of peace, with whom Assad can work together. And we have to hope for a partnership between Assad, Peres and Clinton, to change the future of the region. I would say that after today I'm slightly more optimistic that this will happen.

SUPER CAPTION: Uri Savir, Israeli Foreign Ministry official and peace negotiator

But even for peace, there are still touchy issues on which the Peres government will not budge.

SOUNDBITE:

The Congress, really representing the people of the United States, felt what we feel, that Jerusalem always was only the capital of Israel, of the Jews, of no other religion, that it should be free for worship of people of all religions, and that it should be recognised for what it is, the capital of the state of Israel.

SUPER CAPTION: Uri Savir, Israeli Foreign Ministry official and peace negotiator

Peres is due to give a speech to a joint meeting of the two houses of the U-S Congress later on Tuesday.

Washington, 11 December 1995

1. Peres arriving at Tomb of Unknown Soldier.

2. View of tomb.

3. Peres laying wreath at tomb.

4. Israeli delegation.

5. Peres at tomb.

6. Peres and Perry

7. SOUNDBITE Peres.

8. Cutaway

9. Uri Savir.

10. SOUNDBITE: Savir.

11. Peres-Clinton news conference.

12. SOUNDBITE Savir.

13. Peres-Clinton photo opportunity (US Pool)

English/Nat

After two days of mourning, foreign minister Shimon Peres has taken up his duties as acting prime minister of Israel.

Peres left for work this morning at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem surrounded by bodyguards.

It was Shimon Peres' first day at work as Acting Prime Minister Tuesday.

Security has been stepped up around the former Foreign Minister after a number of death threats.

Such threats are being taken extremely seriously by a twitchy Security Service after a 25-year-old law student, Yigal Amir, broke through security ranks to shoot Yitzhak Rabin.

Rabin was the first head of state to be assassinated in Israel and to many his killing has marked the beginning of a new era.

Throughout the morning, Peres was visited by international heads-of-state who not only offered their condolences but messages of hope and support for the future.

Fear is mounting over the effect the recent assassination will have over the already shaky peace process.

Britain's Prime Minister John Major spent some time with Peres.

Afterwards, Peres told the press his top concern remained the peace process -- and elections came second.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"For us the main consideration is the peace process and not the term of the government. I said yesterday and I will repeat it again - for us to win peace is more important even than to win the elections."

QUESTION : "So you won't go to elections now?"

ANSWER: "I shall continue with the process of peace as we have started and we shall go on."

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres acting prime minister.

Australia's President Paul Keating spent several minutes with Peres.

And Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan met the Israeli President.

The presence of so many Arab leaders has given rise to hopes that the peace Rabin was so instrumental in negotiating may have changed politics in the region for good.

But although Peres went back to work, mourning is far from over for the rest of the nation.

At the site of the assassination - Tel Aviv's Kikar Malkei square- thousands of mourning candles burnt brightly in the early morning sun.

Scores of Israeli's continue to stop and pay their respects to their fallen leader.

Some write notes - others leave flowers and wreaths. Some simply cry.

VOXPOP: (English)

"I still can't believe what has happened and that we can get back to the same everyday life. Rabin is dead and I still can't believe what is going on here and what is going to happen afterwards"

SUPERCAPTION : Naomi, student from Jerusalem

Israel had closed the Gaza strip and West Bank after the assassination fearing attacks by Islamic militants.

But some people Tuesday were being allowed through the strict security controls. Men over 35 had to show passes.

In a country which has lived with violence since its birth, Rabin's killing has merely added to the sense of insecurity.

Jerusalem, Israel. 7 November 1995

1. Bodyguard

2. Various of Peres getting in car and leaving for work

3. Exterior of prime minister's office

4. Cutaway of cameraman

5. Peres and Major exiting

6. SOUNDBITE: Peres

7. Peres with Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating

8. Peres on sofa with Keating

9. Peres talking on phone to Irish Prime Minister John Bruton

11. Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan arrives at President's building

12. Hassan on chair

Tel Aviv 7 November 1995

7. Various of mourners

8. Various of Kikar Malkei square and flowers and wreaths

Jerusalem 7 November 1995

10. VOXPOP: (English)

Erez junction, Gaza strip 7 November 1995

12. Trucks lined up at the junction

13. Palestinians waiting

14. Soldier on guard

15. Israeli soldiers checking I-D documents

16. Cars driving through check point

17. Soldiers with guns

English/Nat

British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind met Israel's acting prime minister Shimon Peres on Thursday, a day after securing a commitment to Middle East peace from Syrian leaders in Damascus.

The two men met in an atmosphere of heightened security in the wake of the assassination on Saturday of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Mr Rifkind reiterated Britain's commitment towards achieving peace in the Middle East.

British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, met with acting Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem Thursday as part of his continuing middle east tour..

They discussed a range of issues, including the development of commercial interests between Britain and Israel.

Peres thanked the British government for its support during this critical time in Israel's history, and reasserted his commitment to the peace process.

SOUNDBITE:

"We appreciate very much the two visits we have had this week from Great Britain the Prime Minister, Mr Major, who came to participate in the funeral of the late Prime Minister Rabin and told the Prime Minister that we appreciate very much this expression of support and understanding at a very trying time for Israel, and I am very glad that the Foreign Minister of Great Britain who made a tour of the Middle East was able to pay a visit to Israel, we were in a position to compare notes. I told the Foreign Minister that we are decided to go ahead with the peace process in spite of the tragic event, and maybe even more so because that was clearly the will of Prime Minister Rabin. Basically our relations with Great Britain are in a good shape. An economic content was added to it and is being developed in a very positive manner, and we intend to cooperate in the future as well. Thank you."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres - acting Prime Minister of Israel

Rifkind who's on a regional tour, flew in from Saudi Arabia where he'd also held talks with Syrian leaders.

The British Foreign Secretary reiterated his government's desire to kick start Syria's stalled peace talks with Israel.

SOUNDBITE:

"Thank you, I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet acting Prime Minister Mr Peres, we are very conscious of the fact that this is a very sad and melancholy week for Israel but one is conscious the Israeli government are looking to the future, having just returned from Damascus, it was a useful opportunity to discuss with Mr Peres the situation with regard to the view that have been expressed in Syria, the possibilities of progress with regard to matters of that kind and also to hear Mr Peres' views on the wider issues involving the peace process. The United Kingdom is very supportive of the peace process, we give total and unequivocal support, I am latter today going to see Chairman Arafat in Gaza and we welcome very much the work that he is doing and taking forward what is the historic process towards the result which will be of great importance to all the people of the Middle-East. Thank you."

SUPER CAPTION: Malcolm Rifkind - British Foreign Minister

Rifkind and Peres met in an atmosphere of heightened security in the wake of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

The British Foreign Secretary was hopeful a new initiative to achieve progress in the peace process could come out of the tragic killing of the Israeli premier.

Jerusalem, Israel - 9 November 1995.

1. Shimon Peres and Malcolm Rifkind walking towards press.

2. Cutaway cameraman.

3. SOUNDBITE: Shimon Peres - Acting Israeli Prime Minister.

4. SOUNDBITE: Malcolm Rifkind - British Foreign Secretary

5. Peres and Rifkind walking away after talking to press.

English/Nat

Shimon Peres was officially confirmed and sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel in Jerusalem on Wednesday along with the rest of his cabinet.

The former Foreign Minister, who will also take on the post of Defence Minister, had been appointed acting Prime Minister just hours after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

On Wednesday, he said he would seek a broader dialogue with Israelis opposed to his government's policies -- and crack down on Jewish militants.

Few doubted that Peres would not be confirmed after he won unanimous endorsement from the Labor Party central committee on Tuesday night.

In addition to the portfolio of Prime Minister, Shimon Peres will also be defence minister in the new government that gained an easy approval from the 120-member Knesset.

His most significant appointment was former army general Ehud Barak as Foreign Minister - a move which may counter those who see Peres as too liberal.

SOUNDBITE:

"In a way it is a learning experience, because in the past 15 years I had quite few opportunities to be very close in contact with intimate diplomatic contacts."

SUPER CAPTION: Ehud Barak, Israeli Foreign Minister.

Peres vowed to continue the course he has already set of aggressively pursuing the peace process.

SOUNDBITE:

"We shall continue our policy of peace, continue our economy policy and try to bring an end of violence to a united nation."

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister.

In a show of unity following Rabin's assassination, Peres' new government was approved by a wide margin of 62 to eight with 38 abstentions.

Peres's new coalition consists of 44 seats for his Labor party, 12 seats for the dovish Meretz bloc and two members of a breakaway right-wing faction. He also has support from Arab members, giving him a majority in the Knesset.

The opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu sharply attacked Peres in the Knesset, but his Palestinian partners were quick to offer support.

SOUNDBITE:

"We see a lot of continuity in this cabinet, we feel it will become the partner with the Palestinian authority."

SUPERCAPTION: Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Minister of Planning and Cooperation.

Peres said he would seek a broader dialogue with Israelis opposed to the government's policies, but would crack down on Jewish militants.

He also urged Syria to speed up negotiations.

Peres has hinted in the past that he was ready to accept Syrian demands for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

(Tel Aviv, 22 November 1995)

1. Exterior of Knesset.

2. Interior of parliament rooms.

3. Cabinet seated with Peres.

4. Ehud Barak, new Foreign Minister, walking in corridor.

5. SOUNDBITE: Barak.

6. Various of ministers in corridors.

7. SOUNDBITE: Peres.

8. Various Voting.

9. Peres being sworn in.

10. SOUNDBITE: Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Minister of Planning and Cooperation

11. Various group cabinet picture with President.

STORY

English/Nat

As grieving Israelis buried their slain Prime Minister, Israel's new premier vowed to continue and broaden his legacy of peace.

Shimon Peres has been taking the opportunity to meet with some of the heads of state who attended Yitzhak Rabin's funeral and assure their continued support for the peace process.

The host of world leaders, among them several Arab heads of state, who came to Rabin's funeral show how far he had gone in winning support for his peace initiatives.

Many of these leaders arrived at the King David Hotel after the funeral ceremony.

Foreign Minister and Acting Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, took the opportunity to meet with some of Israel's new-found friends and assure their support for bringing the peace process forward.

King Hussein came from Jordan to urge other Arab countries to take the road to peace.

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt also made his first visit to Jerusalem under Israeli rule, as did ministers from Morocco, Oman and Qatar, countries without ties to Israel.

King Hussein suggested extremists were wrong if they felt they could halt the Arab- Israeli peace process with violence.

SOUNDBITE:

And we should never be intimidated from doing what we believe in for people and for future generations.

SUPER CAPTION: King Hussein of Jordan

Former U-S President Jimmy Carter added his voice of support to Israel.

SOUNDBITE:

It's a tragic loss for Israel and for the world to see his assassination take place.

SUPER CAPTION: Jimmy Carter, former US President

Around 40 heads of state, and a sizeable U-S contingent headed by President Clinton, came to Israel to take their leave of Rabin.

The final testament of the warrior-turned peacemaker were the blood-stained verses of a song for peace which Rabin sang moments before his death last Saturday.

SHOWS

Jerusalem, November 6, 1995

1. Clinton entering hotel

2. Wide of hotel

3. Acting PM Shimon Peres entering the hotel

4. Peres walking along passage

5. Peres with King Hussein

6. Mubarak and Peres

7. King Hussein

8. SOUNDBITE: King Hussein

9. Jimmy Carter

10. SOUNDBITE: Carter

11. Warren Christopher

12. Clinton's enter

13. Reporters

14. Bloody pages of verse

T/I: 10:54:06

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said on Wednesday (15/5) the shooting of a Labor Party activist was a return to violence that Israelis do not want to see.

Peres said it was an expression of violence first experienced with the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin six months ago.

SHOWS:

ASHDOD, SOUTH OF TEL AVIV - 15/5

Shimon Peres in group of people

mingling with people

shaking hands

auditorium

pan peres to audience of labor party members

Peres speaking in hebrew to audience

audience applauds

prime minister shimon peres sot - in english - "This is an expression of violence which we have experienced with the assassination of a Prime Minister and it's a return to violence that we don't wish to see... we have lost already a prime minister... and i call upon all people to do what we can... we are sure that there is an intervention, on behalf of iran... to stop the peace process ... with bombs and katyushas and bullets..."

ca crowd

3.01

SHOTLIST

New Delhi

1. Interior of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arriving at Pakistan's High Commission to sign condolence book

2. Singh walking to desk

3. Cutaway of photographers

4. Various of Singh signing

5. Cutaway of officials standing by

6. Photograph of Benazir Bhutto

7. Wide of Singh bowing before the photograph of Bhutto and leaving

Jerusalem

8. Exterior Israeli President's residence

9. Wide of Israeli President Shimon Peres seated for interview

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:

"She told me that once she'll become a Prime Minister, as she hopes to become, she wants to visit the country and establish a relationship with the Israelis, with Israel. So she was a Muslim with a difference, a democrat with a difference, a leader with a contradictory situation and yet she kept her charisma as a woman and her strengths as a leader."

11. Peres leaves

Kabul

12. Wide shot of Afghan Member of Parliament Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq arriving for news conference

13. Cutaway of media

14. SOUNDBITE: (Dari) Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq Afghan Member of Parliament:

"I strongly condemn this act. She is a great loss, may God bless her soul. I send my condolences to the people of Pakistan, the Bhutto family and members of the Pakistani People's Party."

15. Various of locals watching Bhutto's funeral on television

16. Close of picture of Benazir Bhutto on television screen

Beijing

17. Wide interior of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Conference Hall

18. Cutaway of media

19. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin): Liu Jianqiao, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman:

"The two leaders (Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao) talked about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the events in Pakistan. Both are deeply saddened. They expressed their condolences regarding this unfortunate assassination. Both strongly condemned terrorist behaviour and hoped that the situation related to her death would stabilise, so that they can strengthen the crackdown on terrorism".

20. Wide shot of news conference

STORYLINE

The world denounced the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Friday with leaders and commentators paying tribute to a brave, if flawed, champion of democracy.

Opinion differed on her legacy and on whether elections aimed at restoring democracy to Pakistan could now go ahead as planned.

World leaders appealed for calm and held their breath to see whether violence triggered by the assassination would continue or would fizzle out.

In India, which has fought three wars against Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh solemnly signed a condolence book at the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi.

Earlier on Friday, in a statement delivered in Goa, Singh added his voice to international condemnation of the assassination, saying Bhutto's death was a great tragedy.

In Jersusalem Israeli President Shimon Peres described Bhutto as having been a Muslim with a difference and that she had told him that once she became Prime Minister she wanted to establish a relationship with Israel.

"So she was a Muslim with a difference, a democrat with a difference, a leader with a contradictory situation and yet she kept her charisma as a woman and her strengths as a leader," Peres said.

Peres told AP he had met with Miss Bhutto on a few occasions and described her as a courageous woman who did not hide her opinions, did not know fear and served her people with determination and extraordinary capability.

Peres was speaking at his official residence in Jerusalem.

Although Israel and Pakistan have no formal ties Peres is believed to have met Bhutto when they both attended UN General Assemblies in the 1980's.

In Afghanistan Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a member of parliament sent his condolences strongly condemning Bhutto's murder.

"She is a great loss, may God bless her soul. I send my condolences to the people of Pakistan, the Bhutto family, and members of the Pakistani People's Party," he said.

Afghanistan, many argue, will bear some of the brunt of the repercussions of Bhutto's assassination, which has plunged the already volatile region into deeper instability.

In Beijing a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao had discussed Bhutto's death.

"They expressed their condolences regarding this unfortunate assassination. Both strongly condemned terrorist behaviour and hoped that the situation related to her death would stabilise," Liu Jianqiao said.

Bhutto was killed on Thursday after an attacker opened fire as she waved to supporters from a vehicle while departing a rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

The attacker then blew himself up, killing 20 other people, according to witnesses and police.

The death of the pro-Western politician, one of Pakistan's most famous and enduring, has sparked worldwide condemnation and been described as an attack on democracy.

English/Nat

As Israel's new Prime Minister Shimon Peres held his first cabinet meeting on Sunday, police were interrogating at least two Rabbis suspected of being connected with Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

Police are probing whether one or several right-wing Rabbis issued a "din rodef" - a ruling under Jewish law which allows someone to be killed to prevent them causing the deaths of other victims.

Three weeks after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the new Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres held his first cabinet meeting.

Ministers old and new - including the new Foreign Minister Ehud Barak - gathered at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem to receive political and military briefings.

Also attending the meeting was the Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Amnon Lipkin-Shachak.

SOUNDBITE:

Q: Any announcement on Syria.

A: "He (Peres) was asked about it and he said nothing new for the time being. When there will be any news he will report to the government and of course any decision that will have to be made."

Q: Any contact with Syria made at European Union meeting in Barcelona?

A: "Such a thing was not mentioned"

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres' cabinet secretary Shmuel Hollander

Police are interrogating at least two Rabbis suspected of issuing a Jewish religious ruling justifying the killing of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Confessed assassin Yigal Amir reportedly believed Rabin deserved to die because his policy of giving land to the Palestinians led to terrorist attacks against Israelis.

One of the rabbis, identifying himself as Rabbi Shmeul Dvir from the West Bank settlement Karmei Tsur, arrived at the police serious crimes unit headquarters after being summoned by police.

Another rabbi did not identify himself to reporters, but said he knew Amir three years ago.

A girl Margalit Har-Shefi, arrested 10 days ago for suspected involvement in the assassination, was brought to the crimes unit headquarters for further questioning.

The potency of the Israeli right-wing was evident again on Sunday when around 15 thousand ultra-orthodox Jews gathered in the centre of Jerusalem to protest the ongoing archeological excavations at the site of Maccabim, in the West Bank.

Archaeologists uncovered what appears to be a synagogue from the Hashmonite era and other remains of a Jewish village dating back 2,000 years.

Orthodox Jews oppose the digs because they might unearth early Jewish graves, desecrating the holiness of the dead.

November 26th, 1995, Jerusalem

1. Exterior of Cabinet building

2. Shot of Shimon Peres walking in

3. Close-up Peres during cabinet meeting

4. Ministers sitting around table

5. Chief of Staff and Chief of Police at Cabinet

6. Wide shot of table

7. SOUNDBITE: Cabinet Secretary Hollander

8. Rabbi being chased by camera crews into police station

9. Photographers wait outside police station for girl

10. Girl gets into car

11. Aerial view of thousands of Orthodox Jews in street

T/I: 10:32:51

A right-wing Likud party activist shot and wounded a supporter of Prime Minister Shimon Peres on Wednesday (15/5). The shooting was the first violence in the run-up to the May 29 Israeli elections. The incident, in the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya, raised fears of inter-Jew violence in Israel, six months after a right-wing Jew assassinated Peres' predecessor, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. According to the police spokesman, the Labor party supporter, was putting up posters for the election when a group of Likud activists demanded he stop. When he refused, they shot him in the foot and drove away.

SHOWS:

VARIOUS ISRAEL - 15/5

HERZLIYA:

shooting location

WS posters

CU face on poster

poster with man's face blacked out

Vs posters and banners being put up by labor activists near shooting location

KFAR SABA:

hospital exterior

emergency room sign

vs int hospital

police man at hospital

wounded labor party activist SOT in Hebrew

wounded leg

man arrives

walk down hospital ward

english sot Labor MK Benyamin Ben-Eliezer: "this is something we've never had before ... the use of a gun in an election campaign..."

activist in hospital bed on phone

SOT man in english: "unfortunately likud has not learned lesson

from assassination of Rabin...

HERZLIYA:

police compound

car used by likud activist

police fingerprinting car

3.05

Eng/French/Nat

XFA

The Yitzhak Rabin Park has been inaugurated in the French capital, Paris, in memory of the assassinated Israeli Prime Minister and Middle East peace maker.

Rabin was shot dead five years and a day ago by a Jewish extremist during a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

His former comrade and rival, Shimon Peres, inaugurated the park on Sunday, saying peace was the only way forward for Israel.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres was in Paris on Sunday - one day after the fifth anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination - to rename a park in his memory.

Rabin was his rival and comrade and a man who became a key seeker of peace in the Middle East.

A crowd of about 200 French Jews and others gathered to see Peres and Paris Mayor Jean Tiberi inaugurate the park - a simple stretch of green in an area of eastern Paris that was once covered by wine warehouses.

Peres addressed them in French, saying he believed people shouldn't give up hope for peace.

SOUNDBITE: (French)

"There is a lot of violence and bad news but we were three at the Oslo accords. Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and I. Rabin, who was really the leader of the process, is no longer with us. But I have visited Arafat. And I am convinced that he like us will continue to look for peace. And in spite of all the concern, in spite of all the victims of the violence, in spite of all the regrets, peace is not dead, Oslo is not dead. It is still the only option for us, for the Palestinians, for the Jordanians, for the Egyptians."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

Some of the audience had tears in their eyes as they joined in the chorus of the "Song of Peace."

The recent violence in the Middle East has seen a surge of anti-Semitic attacks in France - often incendiary devices lobbed at French synagogues.

Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, along with Peres and Arafat.

After the ceremony, Peres admitted it was going to be hard for the Middle East to recover from the current climate of violence and blame.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I know it will take a little bit of time because we have to overcome emotions and accusations not just stones and bullets. And there is nobody that can control the situation which is basically so emotional."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

But he once again stressed the importance of peace in the Middle East, saying it was the only way to live for all concerned.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"But there are the beginning of good signs and also the visit of Mr. Arafat to Washington and, later on the visit of Mr. Barak to Washington, opens the new opportunity. I must say that after Camp David, the distances were very narrow, they are no longer a matter of principles. They are more a matter of mileage. You can measure them."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

In more than five weeks of clashes in the Middle east, about 170 people have died in the worst violence since Israelis and Palestinians began peace talks in 1993.

Despite the current truce, scattered violence left two Palestinians dead on Sunday.

Paris, France - November 5, 2000

1. Various former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other dignitaries enter the park

2. Pan from photographer to inauguration ceremony

3. SOUNDBITE: (French) Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

4. Audience

5. Peres unveiling plaque

6. Close up plaque

7. Pull out from picture of Rabin to dignitaries on stage

8. Singer singing peace song in Hebrew

9. Peres

10. Audience

11. Dignitaries

12. Singer

13. People applauding Peres

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

15. Media surrounding Peres

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister

17. Israeli flag

Hebrew/Eng/Nat

Israelis go to the polls tomorrow to make possibly their most important choice ever - the direction of the peace process with the Palestinians.

The two leading parties are neck and neck with the latest poll putting the Labour Party of Prime Minister Shimon Peres just three points ahead of his rival from the Likud Party- Benyamin Netanyahu.

Voters will effectively be voting on just one policy: whether to continue Peres' peace policies or to elect a challenger who opposes further land-for-peace deals with the Palestinians.

It was business as usual for the Israel cabinet Tuesday morning with less than 24 hours to go before the elections.

Prime Minister Shimon Peres could take little comfort from his lead in the polls.

An Israeli television poll puts his support at 50 percent- only three points ahead of the Likud Party leader- Benyamin Netanyahu on 47 percent.

But Peres is still confident that he'll be back at the head of a new cabinet in a week's time and after the session had ended he praised his government and his predecessor.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

Thanks for a wonderful government, wonderful cabinet. I'm very grateful for all its members, I think each and every one of them should be very proud because of the achievements in the last four years were outstanding by any measurement. The government was formed as you know by the late Yitzhak Rabin, much of the credit should go to him.

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres, Prime Minister

The final election campaign commercials were aired on television the night before.

For the first time in its campaign, Labour turned to the image of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

In an emotional sequence the advertisement used footage of his final minutes at the peace rally before he was gunned down.

The messenger is murdered, Rabin told viewers, but not the message.

Likud by contrast aired attacks on Peres from all of Israel's former Prime Ministers.

With the traditional eve of election rallies cancelled for security reasons, Monday was the last full day of campaigning for both the candidates.

They concentrated on trying to sway the crucial floating voters by venturing into potentially hostile territories.

Netanyahu reached out to Israeli Arabs in the north of the country in the towns of Haifa and Nazareth.

Netanyahu's problem at the end of the campaign is a persistent image of being divisive.

Some Israeli voters are also suspicious of his perceived alliance with the far right before the November 4th assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

In Holon, a working-class Likud stronghold south of Tel Aviv, Peres' visit was meant to be a triumphant return.

He had faced rioting crowds in such Likud-ruled areas during the 1981 elections, when he ran against Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

There were no protesters Monday, but instead of pressing the flesh with the local opposition, Peres appeared before several hundred members of youth groups affiliated with his own Labour party.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

If I have to say what this campaign and these elections have been about it's been about you.

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres, Prime Minister

According to pollsters, one unknown quantity in this election will be the immigrant vote who make up nearly 10 percent of the electorate.

Nathan Sharansky, the former Russian dissident met members of his party, who support extra rights for new immigrants to Israel, at Netanya, north of Tel Aviv.

Security has been increased in Israel and the three month old restrictions on the West Bank and Gaza tightened.

The only people allowed into Israel from areas are members of Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.

Meanwhile vandals overnight scrawled graffiti on the grave of the late Israeli leader and opposition Likud party founder, Menachem Begin.

The slogans, in red paint, were both for and against Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

Peres won, Bibi go home - read one of the slogans on the grave in the Mount of Olives cemetery in east Jerusalem.

Bibi is the nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bill stickers were out in force this morning pasting the final slogans for each candidate.

At Labour party headquarters scores of volunteers were being briefed on last minute party strategy.

But campaigning aside, it is Palestinians who have the most to loose if Netanyahu is elected.

In Gaza, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said that even if

the Likud Party wins, it will not alter the peace process.

SOUNDBITE:

First of all we had signed the agreement with the Israeli government and this is not a bilateral agreement. This is an international one.

SUPERCAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Authority President

With such a close race predicted Arafat has good reason to be worried.

Jerusalem, Haifa, Holon, Netanya, Tel Aviv and Gaza. May 27th and 28th 1996

Jerusalem: Prime Minister's Office

1. Shulamit Aloni, Minister of Communications arriving at PMO

2. Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Treasury Minister Avraham Shohat arriving

3. Yossi Beilin, Minister without portfolio, arriving at PMO

4. Cabinet meeting

5. Amnon Rubinstein, Minister of Education

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Peres

7. Labour Party Campaign Broadcast

Haifa, north Israel, 27th May

8. Benjamin Netanyahu at podium of Likud Party gathering

9. Audience at Likud gathering waving flags

10. Netanyahu waving

11. Pan to chanting and flag waving gathering

12. Netanyahu clapping, pan to gathering

Holon, near Tel Aviv, 27th May

13. Labour party gathering

14. Prime minister Peres with youth at gathering

15. PM Shimon Peres at podium

16. GV gathering

17. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Peres

18. GV gathering

Netanya, central Israel

19. Natan Sharansky arriving at Israel Ba'alia Party gathering

20. Various gathering

21. Woman clapping

22. CU Natan Sharansky

Tel-Aviv, Labour party headquarters:

23. Outside Labour headquarters/Labor posters

24. Inside Labour headquarters

25. Computer screen

26. Women in Labour headquarters

Jerusalem, Mt. of Olives Cemetery:

27. Graffiti on former Prime Minister Menahem Begin's grave

28. CU of grave

Jerusalem, Abi Diss checkpoint

29. Israeli soldier at checkpoint

30. Israeli soldier at post

31. Soldier checking cars and people's identification

Jerusalem

32. Likud election campaign posters being placed over Labour posters

Gaza

33. Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat arriving

34. SOUNDBITE: (English) Arafat

35. outside Arafat's office

English/Nat

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process in the wake of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

PLO leader Yasser Arafat says although Rabin's death affected the peace negotiations he is certain acting prime minister, Shimon Peres, will implement the agreement with the same speed and spirit.

Arafat spoke after talks with Britain's Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind in Gaza.

Rifkind - who also met with Peres Thursday - assured both leaders of Britain's unwavering support to the Middle East peace negotiations.

Continuing on his whirlwind tour of the Middle East the British Foreign Secretary met with the Palestinian leader at PLO headquarters in Gaza City.

The two spent two hours in talks during which Arafat spoke of his continued commitment to the peace process.

Rifkind assured Arafat of his country's unwavering support to the Middle East peace negotiations.

Earlier the British Foreign Secretary met with acting Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

They discussed a range of issues, including the development of commercial interests between Britain and Israel.

Peres thanked the British government for its support during this critical time in Israel's history, and reasserted his commitment to the peace process.

SOUNDBITE:

"We appreciate very much the two visits we have had this week from Great Britain the Prime Minister, Mr Major, who came to participate in the funeral of the late Prime Minister Rabin and told the Prime Minister that we appreciate very much this expression of support and understanding at a very trying time for Israel, and I am very glad that the Foreign Minister of Great Britain who made a tour of the Middle East was able to pay a visit to Israel, we were in a position to compare notes. I told the Foreign Minister that we are decided to go ahead with the peace process in spite of the tragic event, and maybe even more so because that was clearly the will of Prime Minister Rabin. Basically our relations with Great Britain are in a good shape. An economic content was added to it and is being developed in a very positive manner, and we intend to cooperate in the future as well. Thank you."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres - acting Prime Minister of Israel

Rifkind who's on a regional tour, flew in from Saudi Arabia where he'd also held talks with Syrian leaders.

The British Foreign Secretary reiterated his government's desire to kick start Syria's stalled peace talks with Israel.

SOUNDBITE:

"Thank you, I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet acting Prime Minister Mr Peres, we are very conscious of the fact that this is a very sad and melancholy week for Israel but one is conscious the Israeli government are looking to the future, having just returned from Damascus, it was a useful opportunity to discuss with Mr Peres the situation with regard to the view that have been expressed in Syria, the possibilities of progress with regard to matters of that kind and also to hear Mr Peres' views on the wider issues involving the peace process. The United Kingdom is very supportive of the peace process, we give total and unequivocal support, I am latter today going to see Chairman Arafat in Gaza and we welcome very much the work that he is doing and taking forward what is the historic process towards the result which will be of great importance to all the people of the Middle-East. Thank you."

SUPER CAPTION: Malcolm Rifkind - British Foreign Minister

Rifkind and Peres met in an atmosphere of heightened security in the wake of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

The British Foreign Secretary was hopeful a new initiative to achieve progress in the peace process could emerge from the tragic killing of the Israeli premier.

Gaza City and Jerusalem - 9 November 1995

Gaza City

1. GV of Arafat's office

2. British delegation arriving

3. Rifkind and Arafat sitting

4. Rifkind shaking hands with Arafat

5. Midshot Yasser Arafat speaking to reporters.

6. Cutaway press.

7. Midshot Malcolm Rifkind speaking to reporters.

Jerusalem

8. Shimon Peres and Malcolm Rifkind walking towards press.

9. Cutaway cameraman.

10. SOUNDBITE: Shimon Peres - Acting Israeli Prime Minister.

11. SOUNDBITE: Malcolm Rifkind - British Foreign Secretary

12. Peres and Rifkind walking away after talking to press.

Hebrew/Russian

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov in Gaza Friday concerning the faltering Israel-Palestinian peace talks.

Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, a memorial has been unveiled in memory of Yitzhak Rabin who was assassinated by a right-winger last year.

During the memorial service, former Prime Minister Shimon Peres said the greatest monument to Rabin would be peace between Israel and her neighbours.

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov arrived in the West Bank town of Gaza, Friday, for talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Primakov is the latest in a long line of international mediators who have intervened in the stalled peace talks.

Earlier, he held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which time he had sought to reassure him that Syria was not intent on war.

Primakov arrived in Israel after holding talks with Syrian, Lebanese and Egyptian leaders.

Arafat clearly hopes Russia will be able to put pressure on Israel to remove its troops from the West Bank town of Hebron -- one of the main sticking points in the stalled peace talks.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

And we are looking that this Russian role will push forward the peace process

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

Primakov said Russia wanted to work with America and other international peace negotiators.

SOUNDBITE (Russian)

We are trying to push the peace process forward and we're not fighting any side, not even the Americans in order to lead in the process. We're ready to co-ordinate in joint effort.

SUPER CAPTION: Yevgeny Primakov, Russian Foreign Minister

Netanyahu has accused Arafat of stalling the peace talks until after next week's American elections.

Netanyahu reasons that President Bill Clinton wants to gain Israeli votes before taking a tougher stance against Israel.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, a memorial was laid for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Rabin's widow Leah were among the mourners.

Rabin was assassinated last year by a right-wing extremist opposed to his policies.

Despite the stalled peace talks, Peres said he believed the greatest monument to the memory of Rabin will be peace between Israel and its neighbours.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

I'm convinced that the truly great monument in his memory and to the future of the people will be peace with us and the Palestinians, between us and the Arabs, between us and all the peoples in the region and the peace outside will eventually bring peace inside. Let his memory be blessed.

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Opposition leader

In Jerusalem, a Jewish settler was charged with manslaughter following the death of an 11-year-old Palestinian.

Jerusalem District Court heard how Nachum Korman had hit and kicked Hilmi Shawash -- and then as he lay on the ground, had put his foot on his neck and struck him with a gun.

Korman, a security chief at the Hadar Beitar settlement in the West Bank, has denied wrongdoing.

The accused says the boy, Hilmi Shawash, fell as he ran or was hit by something.

Korman had entered Hilmi's village of Hussan on Sunday after reports that Palestinian youth stoned Israeli cars.

Palestinian witnesses have said he chased the boys, grabbed Hilmi and hit him with a pistol butt.

Korman is to remain in jail until Sunday, when the court will decide whether to hold him until the trial is to begin. No date has been set.

The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

9 November 1st, 1996 - Gaza, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

Gaza:

1. Primakov arriving to military salute

2. CU Arafat

3. Arafat and Primakov meeting and handshake

4. Two men walking to podium

5. SOUNDBITE: Arafat

6. SOUNDBITE: Primakov, Russian foreign minister

7. Primakov leaves

8. Arafat waving goodbye

Tel Aviv:

9. WS of mourners at veiled memorial

10. CU Leah Rabin to pull out of her unveiling memorial - pull-in Leah

11. Shimon Peres laying flower

12. Various of people laying flowers

13. CA two children with flowers

14. SOUNDBITE: Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister

15. Peres leaving

16. WS crowd

Jerusalem:

17. WS exterior courthouse

18. Nachum Korman surrounded by well-wishers inside courthouse corridor

SHOTLIST:

Tel Aviv, Israel

1. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres walking up stairs

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres:

"I think yesterday night it was a useful meeting, very little polemics, a real attempt to reach over the differences and the gaps. We are telling the Palestinians the idea to separate between terror in the territories and terror in Israel will finally act against themselves because today the world distinguished between parties and nations that are harbouring terror or fighting terror. The Palestinians must make up their minds if they are harbouring terror or fighting terror if they will not fight terror they will loose the rest of the world. I think that the terrorist organisations are doing a great deal of harm to the Palestinian cause itself."

3. Wide of Peres attending meeting with international quartet mission team

Ramallah, West Bank,

4. Pan of building

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Cabinet Minister:

"I think we covered the political, economic, financial and security matters. I can't speak of any results of the meeting. We urge the Israeli side to stop the policies of assassination, the trial of Marwan Barghouti, the arrest of Abdel Rahim Malouh (deputy leader of the PFLP) and others the demolition of homes, the threats to deport all these issues were raised because at a time when efforts are being exerted within the Palestinian society in order to bring the situation back to a meaningful peace process such Israeli moves to put Marwan Barghouti, on trial such moves to demolish homes, to deport people or to assassinate Nassir Jarer can not be understood other than an escalatory measure adding fuel to the fire. Its not good for any attempt, or undermines every measure to try to put the peace process back on track."

6. Erekat walking away

Tubas, West Bank, 14 August 2002

(Night shots)

7. Ambulance arriving at Nasser Jerar's destroyed house

8. Body of Nasser Jerar on stretcher

9. Body carried into morgue

10. People walking around

11. Jerar's father receiving condolences

12. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Khaled Jerar, Father:

"Every Palestinian can expected to become a martyr, we are facing a brutal enemy who doesn't respect any international law, therefore any pal can be martyred at any time. Thanks be to God!"

13. Women family members crying outside house

15 August 2002

14. Children picking through rubble

15. Various women mourning

STORYLINE:

Talks between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials resumed Wednesday just hours after Israeli forces in the West Bank killed a wheelchair-bound Hamas militant , knocking down his house and burying him under the rubble.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met in Jerusalem late Wednesday with five Palestinian Cabinet ministers, the largest meeting since the contact resumed in June.

The two sides agreed that Israel would release another US 14 million of the US 300 million dollars in tax funds it collected for the Palestinians, the second of three installments.

Earlier Israel had balked at releasing the funds, charging that the Palestinians might use the money to finance terror attacks.

The two sides discussed an Israeli proposal to pull troops back from the Gaza Strip and turn security over to the Palestinians as a test case, according to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Peres himself said Thursday that the talks were good and important. He spoke in Tel Aviv before meeting members of the international quartet mission team on the humanitarian assistance in the West

Bank.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said the latest assassination of Nasser Jerrar in the village of Tubas and the the opening of the trial of Marwan Barghouti overshadowed the meeting with Peres.

Israeli forces knocked down Jerar's house in the West Bank city of Jenin, and he was buried by the rubble, the military and residents said.

In a statement, the military said Jerar continued his Hamas activities despite losing both legs and an arm while trying to plant a bomb in May 2001.

The military said Jerar recruited suicide bombers and was planning a bombing aimed at bringing down an unidentified high-rise building in Israel.

English/Nat

Israelis marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Tuesday in varying ways - some with anger, some with solemn remembrance.

Family and friends laid flowers at his grave to mark the day.

His widow Leah said she felt warmed by the memorials.

In Gaza, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said he would always remember Rabin as his partner and as a man of peace.

Meanwhile, dozens of protesters rallied outside the jail where Rabin's killer is being held.

Hundreds of peace activists gathered for a rally in Jerusalem on the anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's death, protesting over the man some of them blame for his murder.

Protestors gathered to show their anger with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, carrying signs with Rabin's picture hovering over his.

They shouted chants of "Bibi resign, Israel deserves better."

Israel's peace faction holds Netanyahu partially responsible for Rabin's assassination by an ultra-nationalist Jew.

They say that as opposition leader at the time, Netanyahu incited hatred against Rabin by harshly criticising his land-for-peace agreements with the Palestinians.

Earlier in the day, Rabin and his legacy were remembered more peacefully by those who loved him.

Friends and relatives of the slain prime minister gathered at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem to mark the second anniversary of his assassination by laying memorial stones and flowers on his grave.

Among the crowd at the ceremony were former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Yitzhak's widow, Leah.

They said his death had struck a blow to the peace process, but promised to carry on efforts to bring a lasting settlement.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It is a painful moment and an unforgettable moment, but his colleagues and ourselves shall do whatever we can to carry on with the peace process, nobody will stop us and nobody will frighten us."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Former Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"This is a sense that there's some support and it's heart-warming, to see the papers and the radio, the whole country is really engaged in remembering him."

SUPER CAPTION: Leah Rabin, Yitzhak's widow

Rabin was assassinated by a militant right-wing Jewish extremist after a peace rally in Tel Aviv in November 1995.

His killer, Yigal Amir, opposed the peace process with the Palestinians.

Rabin's 1993 peace agreement, which put Israel on the path of trading much of the land occupied in the 1967 Mideast War for peace with the Palestinians, has deeply divided the nation.

In his final years, Rabin was heckled and denounced as a 'traitor' and 'murderer' in protest rallies led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who was opposition leader at the time.

The divisions and resentment have deepened since the assassination, with Rabin's supporters saying Netanyahu's camp has yet to acknowledge its role in creating the

climate that prodded Amir to pull the trigger.

In Gaza, Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat solemnly remembered his former partner in the peace process.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"No doubt he was my partner, and we cannot forget that we both had started the peace of the brave. Now we have to remember that we have lost him. He was a man of peace."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

In stark contrast to the solemn vigils, a debate has been brewing over whether the assassination was a plot by Israeli government agents.

And now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to a request by a minister that the conspiracy theories be investigated.

At the jail where Amir is serving a life sentence, protests were held condemning the man whose violent act so damaged the peace process.

The protesters waved placards bearing messages such as "Shut up and do your time."

Jerusalem, Gaza, Be'er Sheva, Israel - 4 November, 1997

Jerusalem - nighttime demonstration

1. Wide pan of demonstration

2. Shot of demonstrators and anti-Netanyahu signs, pushes into crowd

3. Medium shot of people carrying signs with pictures of Rabin and Netanyahu

4. Line of policemen at edge of demonstration

5. Protestors chanting in unison

6. Wide pan of demonstration from above

Jerusalem - earlier Rabin memorial ceremony

7. Wide shot crowd placing memorial stones at Rabin memorial

8. People laying flowers on grave

9. Medium shot two male mourners hugging one another

10. Shimon Peres at graveside laying tributes

11. Medium shot of mourners

12. Leah Rabin wiping tears from her face during ceremony

13. Medium shot of Rabin, Peres and others standing with flowers at graveside

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, former prime minister

15. Peres kissing Leah Rabin and comforting her during ceremony, pulls wide

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Leah Rabin, Yitzhak Rabin's widow

17. People at gathering of candles and flowers

Gaza:

18. Arafat arriving outside office, shaking hands

19. Camera cutaway

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

21. Arafat walking away

Be'er Sheva, southern Israel:

22. Wide shot exterior of jail through jail fence

23. Group of demonstrators outside jail where Amir is held holding signs and Israeli flags

24. Wide shot of group of demonstrators

English/Nat

One week before the beginning of Haunakah, Jews are remembering slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as a man of strength and peace.

At a tribute attended by thousands in New York City on Sunday American vice- president Al Gore praised Rabin as the guiding light in many lives.

Rabin's widow, Leah, and his successor as Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, called for unity amongst Jews and for an end to the hatred and violence that led to Rabin's murder.

At the New York ceremony, Jews and non-Jews alike honoured Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the warrior-turned-peacemaker who fell to an assassin's bullet just over a month ago.

American vice-president Al Gore spoke of the light Rabin's life shed on others.

SOUNDBITE:

"Now in this special Haunakah season, the lights of the Monorro will also shine with the memory of Israel's beloved son Yitzhak Rabin. They will shine as brightly as the hundreds of thousands of Yurtzhite candles that glow with the joy and warmth that was his life"

SUPER CAPTION: Al Gore, American Vice-President

Prayers were offered for Jews to come together and resolve political differences peacefully.

Speaking with a shaky voice, Rabin's widow Leah told the rally the assassination must linger in the nation's memory,

SOUNDBITE:

"There are things in our life that we insist never to forget, this murder we don't want to forget, who killed and who was killed. We need to change the climate of hatred and violence that eventually brought about the assassination and as this climate prevailed we unfortunately never heard about Jewish solidarity. We hear so much these days about the need for unity and Jewish solidarity, nothing would be more important. We will forever remember you, Yitzhak, full of faith, bearing the firewood on your shoulder and going through the fire and the inferno, so that fire and inferno would no longer exist in this land"

SUPER CAPTION: Leah Rabin, Widow of Yitzhak Rabin

Mrs Rabin noted that since the assassination, the extremist rhetoric of Israel's radical right-wing has been toned down .

She reminded the audience her husband would have wanted peace and solidarity among Jews in his absence.

Prime Minister Shimon Peres also called for unity.

SOUNDBITE:

"We are one people. And may I suggest unity those who are for the policies that Yitzhak has introduced and those who are against the policies that he has introduced - provided that we should also be united against violence, against murder, against callousness, let's argue not hate"

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister

Yitzhak Rabin was gunned down by an assassin's bullet on November 4th, as he was leaving a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

New York, N.Y. December 10th, 1995

1. WS stage lined with rally participants

2. Audience clapping

3. Al Gore standing at podium

4. SOUNDBITE: Al Gore, American Vice-President

5. Pull-out from Rabin picture

6. SOUNDBITE: Leah Rabin, Widow of Yitzhak Rabin

7. Leah Rabin after speech on stage as audience claps

8. Peres at microphone

9. SOUNDBITE: Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister

10. Audience clapping

11. Leah, Gore and Peres standing on stage

English/Nat

Israelis marked the second anniversary of the assassination of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Tuesday, laying flowers at his grave and holding other memorials.

His widow Leah said she felt warmed by the memorials.

In Gaza, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said he would always remember Rabin as his partner and as a man of peace.

Friends and relatives of the slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin gathered at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Tuesday, to mark the second anniversary of his assassination.

In a sombre mood, they laid memorial stones and flowers on his grave, determined that he should not be forgotten.

Among the crowd at the emotional ceremony were former Prime Minister Shimon

Peres and Yitzhak's widow, Leah.

They said his death had struck a blow to the peace process, but promised to carry on efforts to bring a lasting settlement.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It is a painful moment and an unforgettable moment, but his colleagues and ourselves shall do whatever we can to carry on with the peace process, nobody will stop us and nobody will frighten us."

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Former Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The extent of the support is heart-warming, to see the papers and the radio, the whole country is really engaged in remembering him."

SUPER CAPTION: Leah Rabin, Yitzhak's widow

Rabin was assassinated by a militant right wing Jewish extremist after a peace rally in Tel Aviv in November 1995.

His killer, Yigal Amir, was opposed to the peace process with the Palestinians.

Rabin's 1993 peace agreement, which put Israel on the path of trading much of the land occupied in the 1967 Mideast War for peace with the Palestinians, has deeply divided the nation.

In his final years, Rabin was heckled and denounced as a 'traitor' and 'murderer' in protest rallies led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who was opposition leader at the time.

The divisions and resentment have deepened since the assassination, with Rabin's supporters saying Netanyahu's camp has yet to acknowledge its role in creating the

climate that prodded Amir to pull the trigger.

At the jail where Amir is serving a life sentence, a group of demonstrators waved banners condemning the man whose violent act changed the course of the peace process.

In Gaza, Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat solemnly remembered his former partner in the peace process.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"No doubt he was my partner, and we cannot forget that we both had started the peace of the brave. Now we have to remember that we have lost him. He was a man of peace."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

In stark contrast to the solemn vigils, a debate has been brewing over whether the assassination was a plot by Israeli government agents.

And now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to a request by a minister that the conspiracy theories be investigated.

Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva, Gaza - November 4th 1997

Jerusalem:

1. Wide shot crowd placing memorial stones

2. People laying flowers on grave

3. Medium shot mourners

4. Shimon Peres at graveside

5. Various of mourners

6. Various of Leah Rabin during memorial

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, former prime minister

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Leah Rabin, Yitzhak Rabin's widow

9. Various shots of memorial crowd

Be'er Sheva, southern Israel:

10. Wide shot jail

11. Wide shot demonstrators outside jail where Amir is held

12. Group of demonstrators with banners

Gaza:

15. Exterior Arafat's office

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

17. Arafat walking away

English/Nat

Israel is a country in shock following the assassination of its Prime Minister at a peace rally Saturday night.

The cabinet, now convened by the acting Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, held an emergency session in Jerusalem.

In the Jewish settlements, the reaction was one of deep sadness.

All over Israel flags were flying at half mast, the entire country is in mourning for its slain leader.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated Saturday evening as he left a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

A visibly shocked Shimon Peres convened an emergency cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

The assassin has told police he intended to kill Peres as well but when the two men left the stage separately it foiled his plan.

The Foreign Minister has been appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister, but Rabin's presence was still strongly felt, from his empty chair shrouded in black to his photo on the wall.

Peres has told the nation he will continue on Rabin's path to peace.

Peres could either form a new government, or serve out the government's term until elections scheduled for October 1996.

The opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu has announced Likud Party would not oppose Peres if he did choose to form a new government.

Rabin's assassination came at a time of increasing tensions between two camps in a deeply divided Israel - those who favor giving much of the West Bank to the Palestinians in exchange for peace, and those who oppose all territorial compromise.

Confrontations between the two sides increased as the army prepared to pull out of most West Bank towns and villages by the end of the year

But in the Jewish settlements where anti-government protests have been on the increase recently, the reaction was one of deep sadness.

SOUNDBITE:

Anyhow this is not the way to solve problems, we are democracy, this is not the Jewish way. We don't assassin(ate) people just because we are not of the same opinion. Even if they are deciding things for us and they, we feel that we are in great danger because of the political situation but all the people here think that this is not the way.

SUPER CAPTION: Jewish Settler

In the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the leader of the P-L-O, Yasser Arafat, expressed their deep outrage and called for calm.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

... what this murderer wanted. The issue is peace, the answer is peace and the remedy is peace, more peace and more peace, will help this situation.

SUPER CAPTION: Marwan Kanafani, Spokesman for Arafat

Arafat will not attend Rabin's funeral because of the security difficulties it would pose.

Jerusalem and Bet El, Israel and Gaza Strip. November 5th 1995

1. WS flag flying at half mast

2. Ministers enter Cabinet meeting

3. MS Peres sitting

4. Ministers sitting then rising for minute's silence

5. C/way Peres

6. MS photos of Prime Ministers/Rabin's with black sash

7. CU Rabin photo

8. Israeli flag at half mast

Bet El Settlement

9. WS settlement

10. Flag at half mast

11. WS town

12. Woman with children

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jewish Settler

14. Woman walks away

Gaza

15. SOUNDBITE: Marwan Kanafani, Spokesman for Arafat

16. WS Bet El settlement

English/Nat

With elections just a week away, Israel's two main parties are engaged in a fierce battle to attract young voters.

And Israeli youth is rising to the challenge.

A generation which had hitherto been written off by its elders as spoilt and materialistic has thrown itself enthusiastically into the electoral fray.

The Labor Party has been shamelessly courting the youth vote.

In this election video Prime Minister Shimon Peres is shown side by side with young supporters.

The words of the song: "We won't give up on the dream of peace", and it's peace that's the rallying cry for Labor at this election.

Israel has a strong tradition of youth involvement in politics.

But the younger generation of today has never shown much interest in affairs of state.

Up until now that is -- streets around the country are full of young activists from both Labor and the conservative Likud.

It was the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that made Israel's youth cast aside its apathy.

The killing revealed a deep yearning for peace among young people.

It brought home the fragility of the peace process begun by Labor.

Political pundits say that Rabin's assassination has drawn many young voters into Labor's camp.

SOUNDBITE:

The history of youth in terms of Israeli politics has been that until the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin the majority of youth had very deep nationalistic, more to the right type of political attitudes. The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin caused a great change in youth minds and youth opinions. There was a grass roots attempt of youth, of young people, to convey one single message to the government and the Israeli public - we want peace.

SUPER CAPTION: Professor , Tel Aviv University, Department of Public Policy

Peace negotiations with Israel's Arab neighbours have brought Israel to a crucial pass in its history.

The question of whether or not to proceed along this path has galvanised the interest of even those too young to vote themselves.

SOUNDBITE:

Teenagers volunteer to participate in the campaign because they believe that their future depends on the results of the elections. I happen to agree with them - agree that it's very important to volunteer to help in order to get the satisfactory results in the

elections.

SUPER-CAPTION: Tzali Reshef, Meretz Party candidate

SOUNDBITE:

I will go to the beach after the elections. Not now - right now we have to get Benjamin Netanyahu elected.

SUPER-CAPTION: Rafi Green, Likud Youth

Polls conducted before the start of the electoral campaign suggest that Shimon Peres is winning the battle for the hearts of young voters.

But both parties are aware that it's a battle that's far from over.

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, recent and file

1. Labor party campaign promotional video showing Shimon Peres with youngsters

Jerusalem: street junction: May 17

2. sign saying "peace" in many languages

3. young Labor supporters holding signs and chanting for Peres

4. young Likud supporters with signs and chanting for 'Bibi' Netanyahu

7. pan across street to Labor supporters

Tel Aviv: Rabin Square (file: 5/11/95)

8. Rabin square with mourners after Rabin assassination

12. youths holding torches

13. young girl/zoom out youths around sign

14. peace symbol made out of candles

Tel Aviv University: Public Policy Dept. May 17

16. Professor Nahmiyas set-up

17. SOUNDBITE: Nahmiyas

Jerusalem: street junction: May 17

18. youth Labor on street corner

19. set up Tzali Reshef, Meretz Party candidate

20. SOUNDBITE: Reshef

21. SOUNDBITE: Rafi Green

22. Labor Party campaign video showing youth