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Time to Settle Accounts with the Russians

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Begin exploits the actions of the Russian Government to prevent Soviet Jewry from immigrating to Israel. First, he explains the motives behind the Russian tax placed on those who want to leave to Israel. Additionally, Begin speaks about the absurdity of the education tax that Jews have already paid off. Then Begin focuses on the concentration camps and conditions of labor Russian Jews were forced to partake in. Again, Begin shifts to confront the State loan each worker was required to give, and how only Jews wanting to immigrate to Israel do not receive their share of that loan, nor their pensions. Then Begin speaks about what Jewish youth in the Diaspora should do to support their brethren in Russia. He concludes that the Soviet Jews are true revolutionaries and heroes.

Menachem Begin Calls for the Evacuation of Soviet Jewry

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A speech Begin gave at the Knesset after the Munich Massacre. All of Israel is in mourning. Nothing like this has happened before in the more-than-1000 year history of the Olympics. The government must abandon the philosophy of just retaliating when Israelis and Jews are attacked. It needs to take offensive action against the terrorists so that they are unable to kill again. After the Holocaust, Jews need to be sure that Israel is defending them and that they can defend themselves. An international convention is a good idea, but it would take years to be ratified and implemented by the various countries of the world, and as the terrorist threat exists now, it must be dealt with now militarily. Gahal also asks the government to rescind the ban on the death penalty in Israel. Eretz Israel belongs to the Jews, and Israel cannot give concessions to or make peace with terrorists who only want to destroy it.

We Shall Create a New Era

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Begin addresses a crowd in Johannesburg focusing on Israel’s enemies. He first shares what Arab leaders said about their hopes for Israel in both the War of Independence and Six-Day War. Begin then brings up the claim that the verbal hatred from those Arab leaders is merely domestic propaganda that does not need to be taken seriously. This leads Begin to speak about how the propaganda from Nazi Germany was not taken seriously by people and as a result, the Holocaust happened. Additionally Begin speaks about peace treaties between countries after the First and Second World Wars to make the point that the aggressors were not given land back. This relates to his argument that Israel has no reason to give back land that was gained from the defensive war in 1967. He references back to the delay of action by countries to rescue Jews from the death chambers, and so Begin argues that Israel needs to rely on herself and not trust the opinions of other nations.

The Jarring Mission

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Begin describes the recent struggles within the Government. He first discusses the U.S. -Israel relationship and how it needs constant clarification. However, positive change in the relationship happened. Begin describes the decisions made in 1970 regarding Dr. Gunnar Jarring’s peace efforts based on the Rogers Initiative. Ultimately, the U.S. agreed with Israel’s views, including William Rogers. Begin then shares that in Rabin’s most recent trip to Israel, he did not visit his superior, Foreign Minister Abba Eban. A reason for this could be because documents Rabin marked as “Top Secret” were handed over for publication. Begin contemplates who could have leaked the documents and believes it is a national scandal with serious international repercussions. Begin then goes into more detail how it is problematic that Ministers publically share their voting decisions. Begin fears that “administration which acts in this matter is endangering the foundations of Israel’s statehood.”