Comparison between Julius Caesar and Yitzhak Rabin (Essay Sample)

Comparison between Julius Caesar and Yitzhak Rabin
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Julius Caesar was born in 100 BC into a patrician family. He served as a Roman general, consul and statesman. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman republic into a monarch. Yitzhak Rabin was born in 1922. He served as an Israeli general and statesman. He served two terms as prime minister of Israel.
Military Leaders
Both Julius Caesar and Yitzhak Rabin were military leaders although each had different reasons and motives of joining the military. Julius Caesar was forced by circumstances to join the military while Rabin was convinced by a friend. In both cases military was not their choice career. Julius Caesar first profession was as the high priest of Jupiter. He was later stripped of his priesthood, inheritance and his wife’s dowry when Sulla (a political rival) took over power. He ran away from Rome and decided to join the army serving in Asia and Cilicia. Just like Julius Caesar, Rabin is considered an accidental hero; he never thought he would be part of the military. His parents were avid socialists and he wanted to be an agriculturist. He was convinced by a friend to join the ‘Palmach’ an underground Jewish army after college in 1941. The Palmach later became the Israel defense force (IDF).
These two historical men are said to have shown exceptional military leadership that led to various victories. They both climbed the ladder of leadership based on merit. As a military man, Julius Caesar was a skillful equestrian and swordsman. In battle, he was ferocious, merciless and courageous. Julius Caesar had great respect for his military troops. He encouraged his men to embellish their own weapons and were said to be a proud lot. Julius Caesar led by example, he did not lead his army on saddle but was there with them on foot. His men had great respect for him. Though fair, he was also brutal in punishment especially to mutineer or deserters Julius Caesar’s military achievements include the victories of the Gallic wars that led to the extension of the Roman territory to Rhine and the English Channel (Goldsworth, 2006).
. Rabin is hailed as a great military strategist. He believed in vigorous training and discipline of his troops. Making sure that his men were always prepared is what enabled Rabin win many battles. Rabin freed over two hundred illegal immigrants from ‘Atlit Detention Camp’ when he was deputy commander in 1945. He also played a crucial role in the defense of Jerusalem during the war of independence that was between 1948 and 1949.
Rabin, unlike Julius Caesar, fought for the liberation of his people. He fought for peace and against oppression. He was not interested in glory or wealth. For his people, Rabin was always open to peaceful solutions. For example; in 1949, he was among the Israel delegation that had talks with Egypt on the Island of Rhodes. He was later appointed ‘Head of Training’ of the Israel Defense Forces in1954 and promoted to chief of staff by 1964. It was under his leadership that IDF defeated Syria, Egypt and Jordan.
Believers of Justice
Julius Caesar and Yitzhak Rabin believed in social and economic justice. Julius Caesar believed in protecting the poor from oppression by the rich, while Rabin protected his people from oppression by their neighbors. Julius Caesar as a believer of social justice can be illustrated during the period after his return to Rome in 78 B.C after his exile in during the reign of Sulla. He lived a modest life in Subura a lower class neighborhood in Rome since he had been stripped of his inheritance. He took up legal advocacy as a career. He was an exceptional orator with a high-pitched voice and impassioned gestures. He ruthlessly prosecuted former governors that were corrupt and extorted citizens. In 47 B.C, when Julius returned to Rome after his expeditions, he turned his attention to creating a stable government characterized by economic and social justice. He started by removing all corrupt governors and transformed the administration of provinces. He created a government of laws and politics of consensus. He banned all gangs in Rome that were creating turmoil in Rome’s streets. He also came up with policies that benefited people economically (Freemab, 2008). He gave Italian towns additional rights of governance and gave people in the provinces additional privileges.
Rabin was also a master of social justice. He is hailed as having left a legacy of personal responsibility. Rabin understood that a country needs to aim for peace with its neighbors. According to him, there is no reason to choose between trusting relationship with the free world and safeguarding Israel’s security interests. Rabin placed special emphasis on solving social problems, improving his country’s economy and strengthening the IDF. He made an agreement with United States that led to the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding between the government of United States and Israel in 1975. The Entebbe Rescue Operation of July 4, 1976 remains Rabin most remembered act of bravery. It was a secret operation that led to the rescue of passenger hostages that were in Air France, which had been hijacked and forced to land in Uganda. The IDF performed an undercover raid led to the death ...