Two Urgent Matters
Begin discusses the decision to surrender the Beit Safafa neighborhood to the Jordanians and the mistreatment of the Bnei Israel community by the chief rabbinate.
Subjects: Israel-UN relationship
Begin Accuses U.S. of Deluding the Arabs
After the United States called for Israel to absorb Arab refugees, Begin criticized America for leading the Arabs to believe there was the possibility they would return to Israel. Begin saw this as an act of self-preservation and not a position open to compromise.
“Havlaga” (Passive Restraint) Has Not Stopped Syrian Aggression
In the aftermath of a Syrian attack on civilians in the north, Begin sharply criticizes both the UN’s decision not to censure Syria and the Israeli government’s continuing policy of havlaga (passive restraint). He cites examples from then-recent American history and international law to justify a stronger response on Israel’s part.
Unity Based on Freedom
Begin argues that Israel suffered a political defeat in the UN Security Council. He discusses that based on the Security Council resolution initiated by the U.S., the Israel-U.S. relationship remains the same. The U.S. has always based its attitude and policies towards Israel on ethnographic, geographic, economic, and diplomatic reasons. France, on the other hand, did not vote in favor for the resolution because they see Israel as a friend and an ally. He then makes a clear point: “We are not interested in killing Arabs. But if one of these days such a number of Arabs arises, from near or far, with the intention of killing us and destroying the State of Israel, the outcome will assuredly be their death, and the continued existence of the people of the State of Israel.” Begin concludes by expressing the significance of the Knesset adopting a joint initiative resolution which denies any moral authority to the recent Security Council resolution.
Who Will Act For Israel – If not Israel
Begin focuses on Moshe Sharett’s and the UN’s reactions to the murder at Scorpions’ Pass and the Jewish reprisal at Nahalin. After Scorpion’s Pass, Begin shares that Sharett indirectly approached the UN Security Council and ultimately the UN Security Council did not think the case was proven. Then Nahalin occurred and, while Begin condones the attack, the UN and Sharett condemned it. Begin continues to express why he does not condemn the attack and further explains the double standard the UN places on Israel. He explains that Israel must do what is best for itself, including stopping the spillage of Jewish blood. Begin shares that the Ha’aretz newspaper criticized his standpoints, however, after Nahalin, it deemed the event to be ‘cruel logic.’ In his conclusion Begin acknowledges that the Arab guerilla warfare will continue and no Israeli citizen is safe from these attacks. Begin argues that the warfare will stop once there is no more partition, once the entire Homeland is liberated.
