Subjects: Socialism

Likud Govt’s Vision for Israel

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Begin shares a glimpse at what Israel would look like under the leadership of the Likud party. He discusses the party’s goal for peace and the avoidance of war, balancing Israel’s relationship with the U.S., and the repair of the relationship between France and Israel. He stresses the importance of keeping the territories of Judea and Samaria and protecting Israel from the creation of a Palestinian State. He outlines a government of capitalist socialism and lists several laws he would put into action.

The Voice of the People Will be Heard

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Begin disagrees with the Government’s actions regarding interim agreements with Egypt. As soon as the Government receives pressure and threats they give in. Kissinger says Israel is stubborn and that the “stalemate is intolerable and jeopardizes world peace.” Begin argues that the U.S. is threatening Israel with an oil embargo if it does not retreat from Abu Rodeis and the Gidi and Mitla passes. Additionally, Egypt does not show any signs for wanting peace with Israel. Even under these circumstances, Begin believes that the Government should stay strong and not react. By reacting, it will encourage more pressure and threats Begin also talks about the Israeli demonstrations against the Government’s actions. Begin believes that such demonstrations show that Israel is a true democracy.

You Don’t Have a Majority in the Knesset for Re-Partition of Eretz Yisrael

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A speech Begin gave in the Knesset shortly after the December 1973 elections. He congratulates the Speaker of the Knesset and the new MKs and wishes continued good health for reelected Prime Minister Golda Meir. He questions whether the government ever asked for a mandate to withdraw from any territory before a peace agreement is reached. The national consensus had always been no withdrawal without a peace agreement, and the government never asked for a mandate to go against that consensus. Therefore it never received such a mandate. And yet it is acting as if it has a mandate to give up territory without a peace deal. The government has already given up Judea and Samaria, either to Jordan, or worse, to Arafat. This denies Jewish history and Jewish rights. It also would put most Israelis within range of the enemy’s new weapons from the USSR.

Race to Give Up

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Begin speaks about members of the Knesset fighting for who can give up more of the Homeland than other members. He shares viewpoints from various leaders including: Allon, Eban, Hussein, Ismail, and Ben Aharon. One viewpoint focuses on handing over part of Jerusalem to Jordanian supervision. Another one discusses closing Jewish settlement to certain areas. A third viewpoint argues to retreat to the 1967 lines. These viewpoints, Begin argues, will not lead to peace, only to Israel’s destruction. Lastly, Begin speaks about Gahal’s viewpoint and concludes that citizens of Israel will be able to vote in eight months to change the current, destructive course of Israel’s future.

The Correctness of Our Way

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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.