Subjects: Communism

The 1972 Jabotinsky Ferment Among the Jews of Russia

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Begin focuses on the importance of Jews immigrating to Israel from Russia. He describes Russian Jews reading and deeply connecting with Jabotinsky’s writings about the relationship between Jews and Eretz Israel. Then Begin reflects on his commitment to bringing Russian Jews to Israel. He remembers that Russia’s ambassador to Israel telling him that the Russian Jews will not vote for Begin’s party because they are coming for a socialist country. Begin strongly responded that the main thing is to allow them to come. He then talks about how Russian Jews and Herut have similarities. Then Begin argues against the claim that Russian Jews will see the State as fascist. He explains that it is clear the State is a democracy because there are many political parties and in Israel, one can vote for whichever party he wants, because he is a free man.

The Inheritance of Our Fathers

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Begin takes the opportunity, at a meeting of the World Congress, to urge members to reaffirm the historic right to settle the land of Israel. He promises equal rights to all inhabitants, but warns that attempts to find a “solution of the Palestinian people’s problem” are veiled attempts to destroy the Jewish people. He allays fears of a demographic threat, noting that earlier projections of the numbers of olim were inaccurate and explaining why aliyah is often different from regular emigration.

Begin on the Justice of Zionism

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A speech Begin gave in America in 1972. The world wants to forget, but Israel and the Jews will not forget how the Arab armies massed on Israel’s borders with the declared intention of destroying the Jewish State. Thankfully Israel was wise enough to launch a preemptive strike and come out of the war with relatively few casualties and more territory. There are those who say Israel should give back virtually all of the land, but doing so would put Israel’s population centers in the range of the rockets and artillery of the enemy. The PLO and similar organizations attempt to carry out a genocide of Jews, as evidenced by their attacks on civilians and by their own statements. But Jews should never be afraid any more. Israel spends nearly a third of its GNP on defense, and so needs the aid of American Jewry. With their help, Israel and world Jewry will be preserved for eternity.

A Deep Moral Crisis

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In this economic-centered piece, Begin questions the legitimacy of the Histadrut as an institution, both economic and political. He heavily criticizes the amount of control the union exerts over its members and the economy as a whole, comparing it to the worst aspects of socialism and fascism.

Message for the Zionist Membership Drive

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A message Begin delivered to the membership drive of the World Zionist Congress. After the Six Day War Israel liberated Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. This fits with the ideology that the Herut Movement has always preached. Herut has also won a long-standing ideological victory on its consistent stance that there should be a massive aliyah from the Soviet Union.