Subjects: Diplomacy

Choice in Policy, No Fatalism

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An op-ed Begin wrote from the Jerusalem Post. He says that Israel must stand fast in demanding a full peace treaty and not withdrawal from any territory without a peace treaty. Israel is becoming isolated internationally and the PLO, despite having goals similar to the Nazis and carrying out murderous attacks on civilian targets, is gaining international recognition. The government is weak and not standing up for Israel’s rights. The Likud is in favor of a national unity government but the Alignment has sabotaged their efforts to form one by demanding that the Likud give up its principles first. He calls on mobilizing the American Jewish community and the pro-Israel community to lobby on behalf of Israel in America. There is a demographic problem, but if Jews come in large enough numbers from the Soviet Union it will cease to be an issue. Israel also must do more to save the Jews under threat in Syria. If Israel sticks up for its rights it will come through the current challenges.

A Year of Pain Ended, a Year of Problems Begun

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Article by Begin shortly before Rosh Hashana 1974, recounting the events and mistakes that led to the Yom Kippur War. The non-mobilization of the reserves by the government during the 10 days of repentance in 1973 would go down in history as “The Blunder” because of just how devastating and fatal that non-action turned out to be. Jews need to learn that government ministers are not all wise. They can make stupid mistakes as well, even with access to information ordinary citizens do not have. He brings examples from Britain and the USSR’s responses to Nazi Germany and from Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal. The government is heading towards another colossal blunder by abandoning the principles of demanding a peace treaty with direct negotiations and not withdrawing from any territories without said peace treaty. The result will be that Israel will lose territory and not gain any peace.

We Can Stand and Must Stand Firm

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Begin speaks about the difficult peace process with Egypt and the U.S.’s involvement. Begin first reminds the readers that after the Six-Day War, Israel insisted on direct negotiations with its neighbors for peace treaties. Without peace treaties, Israel is not willing to retreat. Then Begin explains that Yitzchak Rabin continuously makes concessions to Egypt without a peace treaty. Begin further explains that the U.S. is encouraging Israel to do as Egypt says. Begin explains that more concessions threaten Israel’s security because Egypt would disregard any promises made to the U.S. in order to support Syria in a war against Israel. To describe the situation Israel is in, Begin says, “We are required to surrender to our enemies—at the request of our friends.” He explains how the Israel-U.S. relationship is not merely the U.S. giving charity to Israel. He concludes that Israel must not surrender.

How Different This Day

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A message from Begin to his Likud base after the 1973 elections, where there Likud gained a lot of ground on Labor. A fundamental shift in Israeli politics is taking place, and Likud is emerging as a true viable alternative to the Labor establishment. . In the settlements and the Arab sector the Likud is making some gains, but in the cities, which are what truly matters in elections, the Likud is making huge gains. And in the army the Likud received more votes than any other party despite an intimidation campaign waged to keep soldiers from voting for Likud. The government also lost ground to Likud despite its lies about being close to a peace deal that would allow Israel to keep the land it captured in 1967. Likud’s support comes from the “believers and the poor.” Likud’s appeal comes from its commitment to the land of Eretz Israel, its commitment to security, and to dissatisfaction with Labor.

You Don’t Have a Majority in the Knesset for Re-Partition of Eretz Yisrael

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A speech Begin gave in the Knesset shortly after the December 1973 elections. He congratulates the Speaker of the Knesset and the new MKs and wishes continued good health for reelected Prime Minister Golda Meir. He questions whether the government ever asked for a mandate to withdraw from any territory before a peace agreement is reached. The national consensus had always been no withdrawal without a peace agreement, and the government never asked for a mandate to go against that consensus. Therefore it never received such a mandate. And yet it is acting as if it has a mandate to give up territory without a peace deal. The government has already given up Judea and Samaria, either to Jordan, or worse, to Arafat. This denies Jewish history and Jewish rights. It also would put most Israelis within range of the enemy’s new weapons from the USSR.