Shir LaShalom is a popular Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i song that has come to be an anthem of the Israeli peace camp. The song was first written in 1969. The lyrics were by Yaakov Rotblit and the melody was written by Yair Rosenblum. Though the song was originally written by members of the Nahal

Nahal

Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...

 Brigade Entertainment Troupe of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), many in the Israeli military establishment were not pleased by its anti-war message and Rehavam Ze'evi who was then the IDF's head of Central Command, banned the song from being played during performances. The song was sung at the rally where Yitzhak Rabin

Yitzhak Rabin

' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....

 was assassinated

Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin

The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin took place on November 4, 1995 at 21:30, at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv...

 and is often associated with his assassination and its aftermath in Israeli culture. A copy of the song's lyrics was found on Rabin's body, soaked in his blood.

Reception in the Israeli society

While it is hard to question the general message of the lyrics, Israeli society is divided about it. Many from the Israeli right claimed that it was improper to use this song for propaganda during the first Lebanon war because of its anti-war lyrics. Some religious groups have said that parts of the lyrics ("The purest of prayers will not bring us back" or "don't whisper a prayer") are anti-religious.

See also

• Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
  Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
  The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin took place on November 4, 1995 at 21:30, at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv...
  
  
• Yitzhak Rabin assassination conspiracy theories
  Yitzhak Rabin assassination conspiracy theories
  Yitzhak Rabin assassination conspiracy theories arose almost immediately following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli Prime Minister, on November 4, 1995. The gunman Yigal Amir, a Jewish Israeli student, was apprehended within seconds by other people in the crowd. Rabin died later on...
  
  

External links

• Israeli peace song symbolizes a movement CNN, 13 November 1995