‘Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin?’

In 2007 a second edition of Barry Chamish’s book, WHO MURDERED YITZHAK RABIN? came off the press. Extensive research based on interviews and testimony of witnesses was recorded verbatim. The accused assassin, Yigal Amir, a right-wing nationalist youth, was found guilty of the murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

His defense stated that he believed it was God’s will for him to end Rabin’s life. But evidence has shown that others were also involved.

One of them, 23-year-old Ohad Skornik, son of Chief Surgeon at Ichilov Hospital, Prof. Yehuda Skornik, was a close friend of Yigal Amir and it is certain that he knew details of Amir’s assassination plan. Yet he kept silent and did not inform the police authorities. He, however, was not formally charged in connection with Rabin’s murder.

Several doctors at Ichilov Hospital made formal statements concerning the type of bullets used to kill the Prime Minister and described in detail the points of entrance of the bullets.

Chamish finds it unusual that both Dr. Mordechai Gutman and Dr. Yehuda Skornick refused to testify at the trial. The author believes that Dr. Skornick had information which he did not reveal. He asked “what is Dr. Skornick hiding”?

We obviously cannot know what details and information Ohad Skornick revealed to his prominent father but the silence continues to enhance the mystery.

On Saturday night, November 4, 1995 a large rally was held in Tel-Aviv’s Kikar Malchei Yisrael (Kings of Israel Square). Among the crowds were members of the Amir group. During the singing of a song for peace, Yigal Amir who had violently opposed transfer of lands to the Palestinians, pointed his Beretta at Rabin on the stage and fired three shots into the Prime Minister’s chest.

It was and still is one of Israel’s greatest tragedies. The sick-minded nationalist youth, too many still among us, have sullied the good name of Israel’s democracy.

What Ohad Skornick and others in the Amir group knew and did not reveal will be carried with them to their graves. But Chamish has done a great service in his extensive research into the case.

And still the question of who murdered Yitzhak Rabin remains sealed, if not in official court records, then at least in the hearts of those who knew something and who said nothing.