A New Gahal

With elections approaching, Begin speaks about Gahal being the true opposition of the Government. He argues that despite what the Independent Liberals claim, they are not the leading opposition party. He also speaks of positive prospects for the election results, with Gahal gaining more representation in the next Knesset. The then shares different reasons as to why citizens will vote in support of Gahal. He emphasizes that Gahal believes in Greater Israel, with no partition of the Homeland. He also speaks about today’s privilege of no longer living in sacfrifice and suffering. He concludes that Gahal is the party that will do the best in handling future difficulties the country may face.

We Seek a Mandate from the Nation to Form a Government

An interview Begin gave to Rafael Bashan of Yediot Aharonot during the negotiations for the formation of the Likud bloc. Begin asserts that there is a strong common denominator between the various parties that are trying to form this new bloc. Contrary to rumors that Begin chose the name ‘opposition alignment’ no name had as yet been chosen for the new bloc. The time of the National Unity Government is over, and a one-party government would not function better but would be worse for democracy. The government, while not being able to carry out the program, had undertaken to give back parts of Judea and Samaria. Begin believes that the public needed to see a party staying 100% committed to its principles. He is proud of his demand in 1967 that Moshe Dayan be made the Minister of Defence because the national unity government that resulted greatly helped Israeli and IDF morale in the days leading up to the Six Day War. Begin demands settlement of all of the Land of Israel.

The Correctness of Our Way

Begin defends himself and Herut against the negative claims that he rules Herut and that Herut would rather stay in the Opposition, and not attain the Government. He speaks of his own moral influence and his belief that “ruling” means being of service to citizens. He explains that Herut and the Liberal Party formed the coalition Gahal, and if they are given the authority, Gahal will propose an inclusive Government. Begin shares that at each Herut Movement convention, there are new faces and new members, some being former members of the Labor Party. Then he speaks about the difficulty Herut experienced while compromising with the Liberal Party for the sake of the creation of Gahal. Begin shifts to discuss Herut’s consistent stand against partition of the Homeland, unlike other parties. He also speaks about the importance of narrowing the socio-economic gap. He concludes emphasizing that Herut has not changed its views, because the views have always been morally correct.

Book on History of the Haganah: A Distortion of the Facts

Begin addresses the Golda Meir’s decision to not publish, under the name of the Government and Army, chapters about Etzel in a second volume about the history of the Haganah. Begin explains that the volume distorts Etzel’s activities and criticizes Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Begin shares his process of trying to prevent the second volume from being published. He speaks with Moshe Dayan, who then passed it onto the Cabinet. Begin also spoke with then Prime Minister, Levi Eshkol. Begin shifts to the current decision by current Prime Minister, Golda Meir, to have the volume published, but without the name of the Government or the Army. Although the distortion of the truth is still published, Begin expresses the importance of the Government’s decision not to put its stamp of approval.

There is a Crisis in Gahal

Begin goes into detail about the recent crisis happening between the Herut-Liberal Bloc. The Liberal Party abandoned the Bloc and collaborated with the Labor Party on a draft bill proposed by the Labor Party. This draft bill was “to change the present electoral system” starting from the Ninth Knesset. Herut members expressed to Liberal Party members that voting to give the draft bill a Knesset majority would hurt the Herut-Liberal Bloc. Liberal Party members assured that there would not be a majority; however, they lied. After there was a majority of 61 votes, Liberal Party members expressed no remorse because it was a principle of theirs to alter the electoral system. That is why they negotiated with the Labor Party. Begin then goes into what the future will look like now that the Government has an absolute majority. It will take years before there can be an alternative party leading Israel’s Government. This threatens the notion that Israel is a democracy.