Israel is Strong Enough to Resist Dr. K’s War of Nerves

Before Dr. Kissinger’s visit to the Middle East to propose a final plan for peace, Begin reviews the threats he feels Dr. Kissinger has used against Israel in an attempt for force them to surrender territory. Sadat demands that Israel withdraw from the Sinai, Golan Heights, and Jordan River, but the state of belligerency will only end if an Arab State is created in the areas of Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip. Dr. Kissinger refers to these demands as moderate. Kissinger stated that if Israel does not retreat and give back territory, war will be inevitable. Begin famously believed the exact opposite of that, that war is never inevitable, and “lessons of the past show how they can be averted.” Begin makes Kissinger out to be a schoolyard bully, trying to force Israel into actions that are not good for the State.

How Dr. K Pulls the Strings

Begin gives examples of how Dr. Kissinger manipulated the governments of Israel, the United States, and Egypt into having things work out the way he had planned. For example, Rabin proposed a retreat from the Suez Canal if Egypt ends the state of belligerency, and Kissinger immediately declared that Egypt will reject it. Foreign Secretary Allon proposed that Israel retreat another 30-50 km in Sinai if Egypt agrees not to join Syria if they attack Israel, and Israel will no longer demand a public declaration of non-belligerence. Kissinger responded to this with harsh words of disapproval. He claimed it would look to Sadat like Israel was planning to attack Syria, but agreed to bring it to Cairo’s attention anyway. Begin additionally argues that Kissinger told President Ford what to say. In the end, Sadat found Allon’s proposal an insult to Egypt, as Kissinger had predicted.

Egypt is Not at All Moderate

Begin combats Rabin’s statement that Egypt is a moderate nation. Begin believes, unlike Rabin, that retreating to the 1967 borders and “restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people” would be the first steps towards “the liquidation of Israel in stages.” At the Rabat conference it was decided that Arafat would be the spokesman for the Arab inhabitants in Israel, and he was authorized to demand the establishment of a Palestinian State. Begin poses two important questions: If a country whose aim is to destroy Israel is moderate, what is extreme? And how does it look to the rest of the world if the leader of the country Egypt wishes to destroy says it is moderate? Begin believes that it is harmful to have a Prime Minister, like Rabin, who believes that Judea and Samaria do not rightfully belong to Israel.

Time to Face the Truth

Begin strongly opposes the UN resolution 741 which recognizes the right of Palestinian people to “achieve their rights by all means.” In response, Begin writes, “Has the world so soon forgotten that Hitler and Stalin also asserted their right to achieve their justified aims by all means?” He is particularly perturbed by the phrase “by all means,” and makes the point that all means includes murdering school children as happened in Kiryat Shemona and Ma’alot. Begin reminds enemies that the fighting Jew “arose during a time when the enemy used all means.” If the Arabs use “all means,” there will not be a state of Israel, he argues. The article also includes an excerpt that Begin wrote for “The Revolt” that Time magazine quoted out of context.

Let’s Arise, Unite, and Stand Firm

Begin calls on General Rabin to fix the economic crisis he believes his party created. He expresses concern and disappointment that the Labor-dominated majority Knesset rejected the Likud’s proposal to fix the economy. Begin stresses that he and the Likud party believe in their unalienable right to an unpartitioned Eretz Israel. However, there is anxiety looking forward to the future because General Rabin uses phrases like “Jordanian-Palestinian” State. Begin believes that it would be wrong to comply with the UN demand to evacuate Judea and Samaria. He calls upon the words of Ben Gurion and Chaim Weizmann to back up his opinion that the Jewish people have a right to all the land of Israel. He addresses General Rabin and the Cabinet and reminds them of the triumph of 30 years ago, and urges them to preserve Israel’s security.