Subjects: World Congress

The Inheritance of Our Fathers

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Begin takes the opportunity, at a meeting of the World Congress, to urge members to reaffirm the historic right to settle the land of Israel. He promises equal rights to all inhabitants, but warns that attempts to find a “solution of the Palestinian people’s problem” are veiled attempts to destroy the Jewish people. He allays fears of a demographic threat, noting that earlier projections of the numbers of olim were inaccurate and explaining why aliyah is often different from regular emigration.

Jabotinsky’s Vision Will Yet Come True

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Begin discusses the need to urge Jews from all over the world to make aliyah. He covers a demographic study which turned out to be inaccurate in predicting the situation a few short years after the Six-Day War, since it didn’t account for the changes in aliyah rates. He closes by noting that aliyah is not the same as emigration, because it is often done not to achieve a better life, but to return to their Motherland.

Message for the Zionist Membership Drive

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A message Begin delivered to the membership drive of the World Zionist Congress. After the Six Day War Israel liberated Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. This fits with the ideology that the Herut Movement has always preached. Herut has also won a long-standing ideological victory on its consistent stance that there should be a massive aliyah from the Soviet Union.

By Our Present Stand We Assure Israel a Future and Peace

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The interview with Begin focuses on his political perspectives and experiences. The introduction positively describes Begin and emphasizes how people think he has changed. The first question asked is about the relationship between Etzel agreeing to work with the Haganah, and Gahal agreeing to a Government of National Unity. Begin explains the differences between both situations. However, the main similarity is the purpose: Salvation of the nation. Begin then discusses his experiences while being in “Opposition.” He talks about the importance in stating that it is a historic right for Judea and Samaria to be part of Israel, however, he emphasizes that he will not initiate war. He spends time defining political terms such as “left,” “right,” “socialists,” and “progressives.” He identifies some of these groups as anti-Israeli and therefore, also anti-Semitic. The interview ends with Begin sharing his beliefs about peace. He is confident that peace will someday come.

Chiefs of the Pre-State Resistance Looks Back

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Begin participates in a discussion led by Geulah Cohen with other key actors (Moshe Sneh, Nathan Yellin-Mor, Haim Landau, Shimon Peres, Eliezer Livneh, Shmuel Katz, and Ya’acov Riftin) about the pre-State resistance. Begin first speaks about the United Resistance Movement and argues against Moshe Sneh’s statement that the Haganah always fought against the British regime. He acknowledges that illegal immigration led by the Haganah was an important form of resistance, but not armed resistance. In fact, the Haganah assisted the British regime in the attempt to liquidate the Underground during “the season”. Begin returns to speak about the United Resistance Movement, and about the King David Hotel operation. Begin also shares how the British government was not interested in stopping the annihilation of European Jews during the Holocaust. The discussion closes with disagreement about what happened with Altalena and the mistrust Haganah leaders had towards the Underground’s intentions.