2 Friday, July 1,1978.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Menahem Begin's Role as Israel's Strong Man
and Speculations Over Future Leadership in the
Jewish State ... The Confidence That Dominates
By Philip
Slomovitz
Who's Who in Israel's Future?
TEL AVIV — Israelis would be naive and unrealistic if they were unconcerned about
the strength of their government and its leader. Naturally they turn over in their minds
the possibility of change and they speculate over who could succeed Menahem Begin as
prime minister.
Begin has not been too well and some did not hesitate to call him a sick man. But the
doctors have given him a good bill of health and he seems determined to prove that he can
carry his burdens. He met with Vice President Mondale and held his ground on deter-
mined policies and on insistence that before there can be new negotiations Anwar Sadat
must outline his policies as a basis for discussions. He has the support of his nation that
an antagonist can not do all the demanding without indicating his own readiness to give a
little when he insists on talking a lot. Even the extremest of the Begin opponents accedes
to such an attitude towards Sadat.
Many are puzzled by the frequently sensationalized reports about Israel's readiness to
discuss peace. Isn't this the major need for the people? How could they act otherwise?
The attitude towards Begin was best summed up by a veteran journalist, a pioneer in
the Mapai Labor ranks, a former Davar (organ of the Labor Party) editor and presently a
commentator for his paper on political affairs. Without involving him by name, here is
what he told this reporter.
"I am not a Begin admirer. I have always been his opponent. But I can tell you that in
the best interests of our people and our country I pray every day that he should have the
strength to carry on his insistence that Israel be kept secure. We need him in pursuing
the nation's needs at this time."
Every time Begin visits a doctor and shows decline in health, there is speculation about
a successor. Many names have been mentioned as possible heirs to the premiership.
Apparently there are few strong ones available. Even Shimon Peres is not spoken of too
frequently as a soon-to-be prime minister.
Impressively, shortly before the Mondale visit which required much attention to the
problem of U.S.-Israel relations, Begin covered much ground. He spoke at the ceremony
marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Petah Tikva settlement and
thanked its leaders for having provided him refuge when the British were hunting him as
a Herut leader protesting the mandatory government's oppressive domination. He spoke
at a reunion of survivors of the Altalena travelers on the 30th anniversary of the sinking
of the Irgun boat which carried ammunition for the opposition party in the Yishuv. David
Ben-Gurion ordered the sinking of the boat, contending that the Irgun had planned to
assume power in the about-to-be reborn Jewish state. Many praised the Ben-Gurion act
as a necessity to prevent a split in Jewish ranks in the war-torn Palestine. But in his
address at Jabotinsky House in Tel Aviv on June 24, Begin commented that the great
prophetic fulfillment was steeped in hope for a fully redeemed Eretz Yisrael; why then
should he have been accused of trying to grab power and of aiming at hurting Jewish
unity? Begin during those few days spoke at a Bar-Ilan University dinner in Jerusalem
in honor of a university honoree from California. He held open house at a traditional oneg
Shabat he has been conducting for years.
These were extra-curricular activities while he had been devoting himself to the affairs
of state. He can claim, therefore, without dispute, that they are not the schedules of a
sick man. Thus he offers a measure of hope for his nation.
Could Begin triumph again in an early election?
The belief in the speculative ranks about current Israeli attitudes is that Prime
Minister Begin would be a winner. He might lose a seat or two, speculators say, but
he would win. It is believed that Labor has not regained its_ popularity.
The party which inspired most noticeable interest in the last election, Yigael Yadin's
A Long, Proud U.S.
From the ADL Bulletin
The dream of a Jewish
homeland, a dream older
than the history of most of
the nations of the world,
was turned into a political
movement by Theodor
Herzl and adopted as a
program in 1897 at the first
World Zionist Congress, in
Basle, Switzerland. But in
the United States, there
was support for the goal of
the Basle resolution —
.. to secure for the Jewish
people a publicly recognized
legally secured home in
Palestine" — long before its
adoption.
The list of American Pres-
idents who championed the
idea goes back to 1818 when
John Adams wrote: "I really
wish the Jews again in
Judea an independent na-
tion ...." In 1825, his son,
John Quincy Adams, sixth
President of the U.S., advo-
cated the "rebuilding of
-Judea as an independent
nation."
In 1891, a year marked by
Russian Czarist pogroms,
Benjamin Harrison re-
ceived the petition of hun-
dreds of prominent Ameri-
cans, led by James Cardinal
Gibbons and the Reverend
William E. Blackstone, cal-
ling for an international
conference "to consider the
Israelite claim to Palestine
Democratic Movement for Change, is losing the most. DASH, as the party is known from
its initial letters of Daled and Shin, has lost faith.
A noted Israeli journalist revealed to this writer that DASH is now called Dzhigal and
Shumacher, being likened to the two formerly popular Yiddish Israeli comics whose
names also begin with Daled and Shin. (After Shumacher's death Dzhigal continued his
stage and radio programs.)
In the event of an election, the quoted journalist said, Yigael Yadin's party could not
win more than three seats.
Who's Who in Israel's future? Menahem Begin presently leads. He suffers from several
ailments but he did not give up the ship. He does not have fullest support: the issue
rotating around settlements did not bring him total glory. But his firmness on refusing to
yield on whatever proposals may be made which could lead to national suicide have total
support.
As a matter of fact, even the extremest in all ranks, on the right and on the left, could
not possibly survive leadership with submission to anything leading to the nation's
insecurity.
What about the Peace Now movement? More and more car stickers and placards
acclaim the Shalom Akhshav ideal. The protesting element operating under this slogan
is composed of many very prominent Israelis. It is not a mass movement. The masses
consider it ridiculous to attempt to glorify a Peace Now idea when the urgency for peace
has existed throughout Israel's struggles for survival and continues, but not on the basis
of submitting to suicidal pacts.
Are the Israelis distressed by the Sadat policies and the Egyptian ruler's having ended
the negotiations with Israel abruptly? Moshe Ron, a most distinguished leader in the
journalistic ranks, is an optimist. He retains a sense of appreciation for the Sadat visit to
Israel. He explains his attitude simply: "Never before has an Arab leader even spoken to
us, let alone visited us officially. Sadat changed it. Now he and others confer with us.
That's a good step in the right direction and we should be grateful for it."
Israel didn't need a Mondale or anyone else to prove the democratic idealism of a land
under siege from enemy neighbors. These are tense moments for Israelis under condi-
tions which bring reports of bombings, or when news stories describe President Carter's
Comments on Israel's position as having been tinged with sarcasm.
Yet there is a strength of will to overcome all 'obstacles.
It is reported that some 500,000 Israelis will be vacationing abroad this year. Perhaps
it is the best proof that the country's economy continues to prosper, despite inflationary
upsets. No one in Israel begrudges a neighbor or a friend or a relative who decides on a
vacation in Europe or the United States. They say if they can afford it they must have
earned the right to it.
What about the problem of emigres, of Israelis who become yordim? Mikhoel Assaf, a
veteran Israeli newspaperman, expressed the same opinion that was given in Detroit a
couple of years ago by Amos Horev. "Every nation has such experiences," Assaf said,
echoing Horev's views. "Aren't Americans often going to Australia and elsewhere for a
change of homelands?"
Those who refuse to be panicked by the yordim even point to the earlier years of Israel's
existence when the exodus was far greater. The confidence is that many yordim will
return and that Israel will not be seriously affected by departures, much as they are
deplored.
It can be summarized again that a small country carries on with courage. What of the
future leadership? Doesn't time and its needs bring forth the men who will lead?
History of Presidential Support for Israel
as their ancient home and to while reportedly careful not
promote in any other just to offend the Arabs,
and proper ways the allevi- nevertheless pledged to ef-
ation of their suffering con- fectuate a Jewish common-
dition." Among the signers wealth in Palestine as soon
was Representative Wil- as practicable.
President Truman, who
liam McKinley of Ohio, who
was elected President in signed America's recogni-
tion of Israel 12 minutes
1897.
Theodore Roosevelt after it came into being, as-
and William Howard Taft sured Israeli President
expressed their sym- Chaim Weizmann that the
pathy. Woodrow Wilson, U.S. was firmly opposed to
at the 1919 Peace Confer- any territorial changes "not
ence, pressed for a acceptable to the state of Is-
Jewish state in Palestine. rael ... We will do all we
In 1922, Warren Harding can to help by encouraging
signed a resolution favor- direct negotiations between
ing the establishment of a the parties looking toward a
Jewish homeland which prompt peace settlement."
had been unanimously And in 1957, four years
passed by both houses of after he had left office, Mr.
Truman said: "I had faith in
the 67th Congress.
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge Israel before it was estab-
aligned himself with "the lished, I have faith in it now.
deep and intense longing I believe it has a glorious
which finds such fine ex- future ... not just as
pression in the Jewish Na- another sovereign nation,
tional Homeland in Pales- but as an embodiment of the
tine." Herbert Hoover, in great ideals of our civiliza-
1928, commenting on the tion."
active pursuit of the dream,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
said: ". . . Palestine, desol- called Israel "a democratic
ate for centuries, is now re- outpost in the Middle East."
newing its youth and vital- He compared the Israeli
ity through enthusiasm, military forces to "the pat-
hard work, and self- riots' army who stuck it out
sacrifice of the Jewish through the winter at Val-
pioneers who toil there in a ley Forge."
John F. Kennedy,
spirit of peace and social
acknowledging that the
justice."
Franklin D. Roosevelt, United States had helped
Israel, said, "but we have
also been the be-
neficiary." He criticized
suggestions that Israel
was to blame for Middle
East tensions as "twisted
reality" and deplored the
Egyptian military buil-
dup with Soviet weapons
and rocket scientists. He
said the United States
had "established and
continued a tradition of
friendship with Israel
because we are commit-
ted to all free societies
that seek a path to peace
and honor individual
right ... In the prophetic
spirit of Zionism, all free
men today look to a bet-
ter world, and in the ex-
perience of Zionism, we
know that it takes dedi-
cation and perseverance
to achieve it."
Lyndon B. Johnson
warned that Israel "is not
going to be able to stand up
to would-be conquerors with
limited forces." He said "the
parties to the conflict must
be the parties to the peace"
and called for "recognized
boundaries and other ar-
rangements that will give
them security against ter-
ror, destruction and war."
He hailed the Jewish state
as "an outstanding example
of how people of widely dis-
parate backgrounds can
achieve a thriving democra-
tic nation."
Richard M. Nixon said,
"Israel must possess suffi-
cient military power to
deter an attack. As long as
the threat of Arab attack
remains direct and immi-
nent, sufficient power
means the balance must be
tipped in Israel's favor ... I
support a policy that would
give Israel a technological
margin to more than offset
her hostile neighbors' num-
erical superiority."
Gerald R. Ford said he
and his Administration
were committed "to the sur-
vival of Israel as a free and
independent state." He
further stated that "a strong
Israel is essential to peace
and to the national security
in the United States. From
the time I first ran for Con-
gress in 1948, I recognized
the justice of Israel's rebirth
and its importance to the
United States."
Jimmy Carter's com-
ments during his cam-
paign and the early
months of his Presidency
are of particular interest
in light of Washington's
recent tilt in favor of the
Arabs.
In August, 1976, Mr. Car-
ter said any settlement of
the Palestinian question
must "recognize that the Is-
raelis did not cause the
Palestinian problem." In
September, he said: "Com-
mitment to a viable Israeli
state must be a cornerstone
of American foreign policy
... We must supply Israel
unequivocally and in the
full amount necessary,
economic and military aid
so Israel can pursue peace
from a position of strength
and be protected against
any foreseeable attack."
The same month, he voiced
opposition to supplying
weapons to Egypt, Jordan
and Saudi Arabia. It is not
possible," he said, "to en-
courage both Arab modera-
tion and Arab militarism at
the same time . . ."
In the Ford/Carter televi-
sion debates, Mr. Carter
said: "We almost brought
Israel to its knees after the
Yom Kippur War. We made
Israel the scapegoat for our
own problems in the Middle
East." Discussing arms
shipments to the Middle
East, he pointed out that
"60 percent goes to the Arab
countries ... This is a de-
viation from idealism; a de-
viation from a commitment
to our major ally in the Mid-
dle East, which is Israeli; it
is yielding to economic pres-
sure on the part of the Arabs
on the oil issue . ..."