Rivlin: Arens one of Israel's best and most responsible defense ministers
President Reuven Rivlin eulogized former defense minister Moshe Arens at his funeral on Tuesday.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFPresident Rivlin at the funeral of Moshe Arens.(photo credit: MARK NEIMAN - GPO)
President Reuven Rivlin eulogized former defense minister Moshe Arens at his funeral on Tuesday.“Your principles derived from an understanding that you believed with all your heart. The basic belief that the State of Israel can only be democratic and Jewish, Jewish and democratic, and that the burden of proof falls on us and us alone,” Rivlin said. “You believed that Israel’s obligation to include its Arab citizens was its first priority, even before the need for a political agreement, and that it was essential for all our futures. It was according to that belief that you worked and acted”"Teacher and guide to so many in the national-liberal camp, myself included," Rivlin continued. "A true Zionist, with every bone in his body, a servant of the people, and never the opposite.""All your life you possessed two remarkable abilities – the capacity to dream, to be a man of creativity and vision, and at the same time the capacity to realize, to be a man of action who knew how to do things, who could take the necessary steps to move the people and the whole country forward." Rivlin remarked."you are buried today in the land that you loved. You were not born here, but here is where you made your home. Here is where your life was. You were a teacher and guide to all of us – a man of the Land of Israel. Go in peace, teacher and guide to so many of the national-liberal camp." Rivlin concluded.
