In response to threats issued by President Anwar Sadat, Begin here compares the Soviet-Egyptian treaty to the Molotov-Ribbentrop treaty and urges Jewish unity. He closes by reiterating Gahal’s platform, which he terms an alternative to withdrawal from territory: direct negotiations, no prior obligations, and maintaining the situation at the time of the ceasefire until a full peace treaty is concluded.
Begin opposes an idea raised at a luncheon attended by Americans and Israelis. The idea, raised by American diplomats, was that Russia’s involvement had to do with the Israel-Arab conflict, and therefore, Israel was indirectly responsible for Russia’s actions. Begin points out that Israel is actually preventing Russia from gaining control of the Suez Canal. He argues that just how the Vietnam War cannot end quickly, the opening of the Suez Canal also needs to be a slow process. Therefore, he asks for the United States to slow down the talks about opening the Suez Canal. Begin states that Sadat does not actually want peace and based on his two terms for pace, he actually wants to liquidate Israel. In his conclusion, he talks about violence happening between Arabs and makes the argument that if they are ruthlessly fighting each other, it does not make sense for Israel to trust them.
Begin discusses the Government going against the Knesset’s decision in regards to retreating from the Suez Canal. Begin explains how the Government told the Government of the United States, in writing and verbally, that Israeli troops would retreat from the Suez Canal if the Canal was reopened to international shipping. Since the Government made pledges to maintain the decisions of the Knesset, Begin claims that the Government’s current actions are a breach to the basic law of the State. Begin then reflects on past situations and how he is in disbelief that after all this, the Government still considers withdrawing without a peace treaty. Begin remarks at the end that if Israel is not making good decisions, then there is no reason for the United States to make decisions considerate of Israel’s security.
This article summarizes and quotes Begin’s address to the Knesset, with William Rogers present, arguing against the Roger’s Plan. He argues that 97% of the Knesset rejects the Roger’s plan because it would allow for Israeli cities to be vulnerable to Arab shelling. Begin argues that the plan gives Arabs everything. He also reminds Rogers that Israel is the only obstacle preventing a Russian invasion into the region. The article concludes by quoting Begin from the Israel Radio, in which Begin said that Israel is still far from peace, and the U.S. supporting the Roger’s Plan does not help.
Begin focuses on the United States Supreme Court and American opinions regarding the Mai-Lai massacres. Ultimately, he makes the point that for Israel, it is important that the U.S. is stable. He starts off by talking about U.S. Supreme Court judges accusing each other of acquitting the guilty. Then he describes the William Calley’s case about Calley killing civilians and the Mai-Lai massacre. He talks about how Americans are coping with this information. There is a comparison made by a commentator between this crisis and the Dreyfus trial. American students, among other citizens, are losing confidence in the president because of the amount of time the U.S. has been at war. Then he shifts to talking about America’s Middle East policy. He claims that the U.S. shifts between two contradicting policies, one that favors Israel’s enemies and one that supports Israel. Lastly, Begin explains that the current crisis in America is encouraging American Jews to strongly support Israel.
