ABSTRACT

The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin must not be considered an act perpetrated by a lunatic or a crank. It is clear that Yigal Amir’s act must be interpreted in the framework of a general situation linked to the negotiations with the Palestinians (after all, Oslo II had been signed just six weeks before that tragic night of 4 November 1995). The peace process, which is now engaged, will certainly be extremely painful and its rejection by some sections of the people could turn into a real threat for the regime. It is my intent to ask whether the Israeli democracy should be ready to prepare itself, in order to be able to face up to the challenge of its opponents. I would like to argue that the emergency power system might not be sufficient for that task. In some historical instances, there is a need for considering a constitutional dictatorship, much beyond the traditional theory of emergency powers.