Subjects: Security

Israel Diplomacy is Moving in Circles

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Begin explains that based on Anwar Sadat’s words and actions, it is delusional of Israel to believe that peace will come from the Rogers Plan. In a speech, Sadat says that Egypt’s goals of war are to force Israel back into the pre-Six-Day War borders and to safeguard Palestinian rights. Furthermore, Sadat threatens to end the ceasefire if Israel does not begin to withdrawal from the east bank of the Suez Canal. Begin understands that the meaning of these goals is to destroy Israel. His response is that Israel needs to answer strongly to show that threats will not weaken Israel. Begin believes that people are delusional if they support withdrawal and therefore, trust international forces to secure Israel. Begin does not trust the current peace agreements. In the end, he argues that peace agreements need to through direct negotiations and that Jews have an unconditional right to Israel.

Gahal’s Plan for Peace

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Begin shares Gahal’s plan for peace, with its main objective preserving the peace of the nation of Israel, not only for his generation, but also for future generations. The plan for peace must involve mutual recognition, direct negotiations, a historical truth that Jewish people have the eternal right to their homeland, and no partition of the land. Additionally, there must be no threat of aggression and an obligation to prevent existence of hostile organizations. Begin believes that Gahal’s plan for peace has the combination of security and peace. Without this combination, there will be constant bloodshed and a threat to Israel’s existence. He reflects on the increase of aliyah, which has made Jabotinsky’s dream of having a Jewish majority in the region come true. He also discusses the cycle Jews have been in for all their history: Rising and falling. He concludes that Israel will stop the cycle at rising and therefore, Jews will no longer fall.

If We Retreat the Enemy Will Advance

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Begin argues that the West Bank should remain part of Israel. He first shares alternatives to his belief regarding what to do with the West Bank. The first alternative is to give the land to Jordan, and the second is to give the land to the Palestinians. He argues that both alternatives will threaten Israel’s security because both believe in the full liberation of Palestine, which means Israel would no longer exist. Even if there is a peace agreement, Begin does not trust that the agreement will be upheld. His distrust partially comes from the recent situation where Egypt violated the agreed upon freeze. He argues that it is absurd that one should be identified as “Palestinian” in one city, but in another city one would be identified as “Arab.” He then says that if they are all Arab, and living in Israel, they will have freedom, equality and progress. In closing he argues that not keeping the West Bank will both segregate Arabs and threaten Israel’s safety.

Israel Must Rid Itself of the Jarring Debacle

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Begin focuses on the actions of the Israeli Government, which caused Gahal to leave the Government. In regard to Rogers initiative, the Government at first rejected it, and then later accepted it. Begin mentions that the U.S. State Department ignored the Government’s amendments and claimed that Israel had accepted the original Rogers initiative. This original led to Resolution 242. Even though the Israeli Government had previously rejected some of the notions in the Rogers initiative, they paradoxically made the decision to work towards accomplishing this resolution. Begin explains that Gahal could not be part of a Government that accepted such initiative because it completely went against both Gahal’s platform for “no partition” and the accepted Government policy of peace treaties being achieved through direct negotiations. In the conclusion, Begin focuses on the danger Israel faces from its neighbors as a result of the Government accepting the Rogers initiative.

Our Right and Security

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Begin discusses the importance of keeping the land Israel gained in the Six-Day War. Begin explains the difference between negative and positive zealotry. He argues that Gahal has positive zealotry, and says that such zealotry helped establish Israel and encourage love for the Jewish Nation and its Motherland. Begin then talks about the importance of protecting the Motherland. He argues that the idea to agree to go back to the green line will threaten Israel because of the Ketyusha rockets, amongst other weapons Israel’s enemies have. Begin quotes statements made my individuals and international documents to prove that since Israel acted out of self-defense during the Six-Day War, it has a right to remain in the land gained. He states that Israel’s Government’s illusion of peace will result in bloodshed. He concludes by describing Judaea’s loss of Jerusalem and how two generations later, they fought back and returned to the land.