PM Netanyahu Launches
Virtual Exhibit to Mark the Centenary of the Birth of Menachem Begin
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday evening (Monday, 16 September
2013), launched a virtual exhibit to mark the centenary of the birth of
Menachem Begin.
Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat, Menachem Begin Heritage Center
Chairman Herzl Makov and Google Israel Research and Development Director Yossi
Matias also attended the event.
Menachem Begin is the first Israeli personality to be remembered in a joint
initiative between the Google Cultural Institute
and museums and cultural institutions around the world. The goal of the
initiative is to render the materials in cultural institutions more accessible
to various publics around the world via the Internet.
With photographs and video clips, the exhibit tells the life story of Menachem
Begin, starting with his birth in Poland, through his activities in the Betar
movement, his imprisonment by the Soviets, his arrival in the Land of Israel,
his war to liberate the homeland and the key roles he played in Israeli
politics – in the opposition, as a minister and as Prime Minister.
Menachem Begin Heritage Center Chairman Makov showed Prime Minister Netanyahu
photographs of the signing of the peace agreement with Egypt as well as the
peace agreement itself, signed by Prime Minister Begin, US President Jimmy
Carter and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and a quote by Begin ("Under no
circumstances will we allow an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction to
be used against our people. We will defend the citizens of Israel, at the
proper time, with all means at our disposal.") regarding the bombing of
the Iraqi nuclear reactor in June 1981.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Menachem Begin taught us that peace is
made and upheld only with the strong. There is much to learn from this splendid
exhibit about this exemplary personality. Here one may surf our collective
memory which is composed of the great spirit and the great deeds of great
people."
Culture and Sports Minister Livnat said, "No subject is more appropriate
than Menachem Begin to be the subject of an exhibit that allows anyone in the
world to study his outstanding personality, his love of Israel and his abiding
commitment to liberal values, including freedom of expression, equal
opportunity and the reduction of social gaps. In many ways, Google is probably
the most popular means in the world for making information more accessible,
which provides a person with freedom, the same freedom that stood as the base
of the liberal outlook which Menachem Begin clung to his entire life. Begin led
a political-social revolution in Israel, and Google is leading an information
technology revolution. Today we link the two so that Begin's life and deeds
will be accessible to all at the click of a mouse."
Menachem Begin Heritage Center Chairman Makov said, "With the launch of
this exhibit on the Google site we are emphasizing the heritage and work of
Menachem Begin among millions and perhaps billions of people around the world.
This is a moving moment for us and a very significant moment in the history of
the Center."
Google Israel Research and Development Director Matias said, "The internet
has led to the democratization of the arts, history and heritage, and is able
to help preserve important material for the future such as documents,
photographs and letters, which over time might be forgotten and could
disappear. Via the Google Cultural Institute, we are pleased to provide the
technology through which the people at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center will be
able to upload archival material and, from the physical exhibit, provide
background documentation and context, and render it accessible to people around
the world."
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