Subjects: Six-Day War

Menachem Begin on Israeli Chauvinism and Aliya

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Excerpts from a speech Begin gave at the World Conference of Zionist leaders after the Six Day War. Begin questions why the conference has not properly addressed the “urgency of the revolutionary hour” after the Six Day War, when Israel’s existence was threatened by the massive build-up of Arab Armies on its borders and won a great victory, taking back the land of Western Eretz Israel. He questions those who accuse Zionists of ‘chauvinism’ when Frenchmen and Poles are allowed to love their lands and express joy that they have reclaimed lost territory. Begin then says that although Israel has a large Jewish majority, a mass aliyah from countries like the USA is necessary to maintain that majority. Israel’s future depends on such an aliyah.

Menachem Begin’s Stirring Message of Hope and Faith

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The conclusion of Begin’s speech regarding Israel’s right to retain territories liberated in the Six-Day War. Here, he focuses on maintaining a Jewish majority in Israel through encouraging aliyah and a strong national unity government in order to persevere. Part 3 of 3.

No Mediation – Only Direct Negotiation

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A continuation of Begin’s defense of Israel’s retention of territories liberated in the Six-Day War. In this piece, Begin discusses the Khartoum Conference, which dealt with the Arab states’ unwillingness to negotiate with Israel, and Egypt’s responsibility for instigating the war by closing the Gulf of Aqabah to Israeli ships. He closes with a discussion of the demographic threat of Arabs living in those territories, and calling for mass aliyah to balance it out. Part 2 of 3.

Israel’s Right to Establish Territorial Changes

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An article by Begin discussing Israel’s right to retain territories liberated in the Six-Day War. He focuses on Soviet Russia’s definition of aggression and Israel’s inherent right to self-defense under the United Nations Charter. He ends with a call for a full, comprehensive peace treaty between Israel and her neighbors. Part 1 of 3.

Let Us Not Lose This Great Hour!

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On the occasion of Rosh Hashanah 1967, MK Begin wrote an article describing the momentousness of the Israeli victory in the Six-Day War. In it, he calls on the Israeli government to adopt territorial changes, arguing that Judea, Samaria and Gaza were seized in 1967 as part of a defensive war and, therefore, need not be returned. He ends with a call to speed up the ingathering of the exiles to Israel.