Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Begin's Governments and Jerusalem

Excerpted from an article by Nadav Shragia, Yet another decision about Jerusalem


What happened to the more than 330 decisions on Jerusalem that Israeli governments have made over the past 30 years? With the Annapolis conference behind us and negotiations on Jerusalem in the offing, along with the big dispute over the division of Israel's capital, there seems to be particular interest in a new study by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, which attempts to answer this question.

Reuven Merhav, a former Foreign Ministry director general, and Guy Galili, a research assistant, visited the government archives to find all such decisions from the years 1975-2005. Not surprisingly, they found that alongside the decisions that were implemented, many other decisions that could have changed Jerusalem's status were left to gather dust on the shelves.

...The record-holder for decisions on Jerusalem was the first government led by the late Menachem Begin, which served from 1977 to August 1981. It made 74 such decisions, averaging 17.5 a year. The second Likud-led government (August 1981-October 1983) made fewer decisions on Jerusalem than any other government during the period examined, averaging only five per year.

Even so, numbers are no indication of content, importance or implementation. In order to analyze the 330 decisions, Merhav and Galili divided them into sub-categories: declarative decisions; decisions on the status of Jerusalem; decisions on the Old City and East Jerusalem; decisions on land development, construction, industry, financial incentives, tourism, education, culture and welfare; and decisions on security matters.

The most decisions in any category - 122 - concerned development, land use, construction and incentives. Another 97 decisions addressed the status of Jerusalem. These hovered between being declarative and having a practical impact, such as transferring budgets or setting clear objectives. Several decisions in this category concerned the transfer of government offices to Jerusalem. These ostensibly could have affected hundreds of employees, who would then live in Jerusalem, strengthen the population and improve the Jewish side of the demographic balance, but Merhav and Galili call these decisions a "continuing saga."

In January 1977, for example, the government decided to bring all national ministry offices to Jerusalem. In late 1977 and early 1978, the Begin government demanded a timetable for the move, which would include shutting down Hebrew University dormitories in order to turn them into offices. Students are still living there to this day.

In February 1983 the second Begin government voted to act immediately to implement previous decisions on transferring national government ministries and government company offices to Jerusalem.

Begin Center Bulletin, Vol. 4, Issue 8

Volume 4, Issue 8
December 5, 2007

Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 345,874


60 Years Ago: The Inevitability of the Jewish State

The festive State celebration of the 60th anniversary of the UN resolution regarding the future of Palestine which was adopted on 29 November 1947 recalls the remarkable meeting in Tel Aviv between the Chairman of the UN Committee on Palestine, Judge Sandstrom, Dr. Victor Hoo, the Assistant Secretary General of the UN Organization, and Dr. Ralph Bunch, Secretary of the UN Organization Trustee Council, with Menachem Begin, Commander of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, Chaim Landau and Shmuel Katz. The details of the meeting were desc ribed by Begin in his first book, The Revolt.

In the course of the meeting Menachem Begin said, "What we wish is complete evacuation of the British, the removal of British rule, the setting up of a provisional government and the creation of a Jewish State."

He stated that the Irgun consider themselves lawful fighters engaged in a legitimate fight and that they considered the British to be here illegally. He said that the Irgun is absolutely convinced that it fights not only for the independence of Palestine, but for the rights of all free men.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Sandstrom said: "I am sorry that the other members of the Committee could not hear you. We shall report to them, but there is always a difference in effect in what you hear for yourself and what you hear second hand." Dr. Hoo left saying, "Au revoir, in an independent Palestine." And Dr. Bunch was the warmest of all. Shaking Begin's hand he explained feelingly. "I can understand you. I am also a member of a personal minority."

A few days later, it was revealed that the British were angry that such a meeting took place. "We have been looking for him for five years!" It was pointed out. "And we have not succeeded in getting anywhere near him. Yet, it appears that the Chairman of the UN Committee found him with the greatest of ease."

The Irgun leader subsequently met the South American members of the Committee, Dr. Granados of Guatemala and Prof. Fabregat of Uruguay. Both had been in exile and underground while fighting against tyranny in their own countries.

When, at the end of the meeting, they learned with whom they had been speaking, they were overcome with emotion. Fabregat put his arms around Begin's shoulders and hugged him and declared "We are brothers in arms." Begin replied, "All the world's fighters for freedom are one family."

All this is recalled to stress that it was not the UN vote that created the State of Israel, but the Zionist struggle of many years which terminated in the struggle of the underground movements that obliged the British to hand back the mandate for Palestine to the UN. The meeting on 29 November gave recognition to the inevitability of the rise of the Jewish State.

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Chag Chanukah Sameach!

from the Menachem Begin Heritage Center


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Leonard Asper Stops by the Begin Center

Mr. Leonard Asper, President and CEO of CanWest Global Communications Corp., came to the Begin Center on Monday for a meeting with the Fo under, Harry Hurwitz and the Chairman of the Center, Herzl Makov. He was accompanied by the Director of his office, Mr. Michael Woollatt.

In the morning, he had made a deep impression at the Ariel University Center of Samaria where he was the keynote speaker at an all-day conference on "The Media and the Middle East," which is held annually in memory of the late David Bar Illan.

In his 40 minute address, Asper spoke of Israel's PR battle and analyzed some suggestions and failures that he had in defending Israel's position. His late father, Izzy Asper, had fought a valiant battle in this area on television, radio and the print media. It was he who had initiated strong roots in Israel by his connections with various important institutions such as the Menachem Begin Heritage Center of which the family is very proud.

Leonard Asper was shown several new features in the building which were not yet completed at the time of his visit several years ago.

Visitors

The mayor of Haifa, Mr. Yona Yahav and his wife came unannounced at the beginning of the week to the Begin Center. They viewed the "30 years after Sadat's visit" exhibition and then went into the Menachem Begin Museum, which impressed them very much. They said afterwards that they hoped to arrange a visit for their children to such an important and impressive place.

* * * * *

Benny Raphael, who presently lives in Ohio, but is originally from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, visited the Begin Center where he met briefly with its Founder, Harry Hurwitz.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Menachem Begin Number 4

Jabotinsky most popular street name in Israel

Not Ben-Gurion or Herzl, but rather Likud founder wins title of most commemorated historical figure in Israel, with 57 streets, parks and squares bearing his name. Only one woman makes top 20 list, and it's not former PM Golda Meir

While you may expect it to be David Ben-Gurion or Binyamin Ze'ev (Theodor) Herzl, the most commemorated historical figure in Israel is in fact none other than Ze'ev Jabotinsky, founder and leader of the Irgun and Revisionist Zionism.

According to data collected by the Mapa geographical database, 57 sites (including streets, squares and parks) in the country are named after Jabotinsky. Herzl, the founder of Zionism, lags behind, with only 52 sites across Israel named after him.

Meanwhile, Israel's first prime minister Ben-Gurion, the state's first president Chaim Weizmann and national poet Haim Nahman Bialik have each given their names to 48public sites.

The first Sephardi Jew on the list comes only at the fourth place: One of the greatest Jewish poets, Rabbi Shalom Shabazi of Yemen, who has 48 sites bearing his name.

The late prime minister Menachem Begin, who was known for his modesty and who specifically asked before his death not to be commemorated, has streets and parks named after him in no less than 43 communities.

Among the 20 most commemorated figures in Israel, there is only one woman, and surprisingly, it is not former prime minister Golda Meir, but rather paratrooper Hannah Szenes, who gave her name to 38 Israeli sites.

And Meir? The woman who has a Manhattan junction bearing her name is only commemorated in 12 streets in Israel.

"In the land of the Jews women do not count. This is a disgrace," said former Minister Shulamit Aloni. "Rachel Kagan signed the Declaration of Independence, was the first woman Knesset member and a WIZO leader. Where is she today?

"Everybody sings and memorizes poems by the poet Rachel, but she has also disappeared from the map," she added.

Begin Center Bulletin, Vol. 4, No. 7

Volume 4, Issue 7
November 28, 2007


Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 343,932


The Menachem Begin Prize 2007

The 2007 Menachem Begin Prize will be awarded at a festive ceremony on Tuesday, 11 December, the evening when the 8th candle of Chanukah is lit. The event will take place in the Reuben Hecht Auditorium at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.

This year's prize is being awarded to the Bnei David Pre-Military Academy in Eli, which over the years has produced a number of great heroes of Israel, among them Major Ro'i Klein, who was honored by the Begin Prize Committee in 2006.

This year's personal recognition is extended to the former Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Court Meir Shamgar, who in his early days was active in the Irgun Zvai Leumi and was exiled by the British to the Gilgil Camp in Kenya together with 250 other such detainees. There in the camp he started his law studies which he completed on the group's return after the creation of the State. Thereafter he rose rapidly in the legal profession to bec ome Chief Justice in 1983. He completed his term in 1995 and has since served on various public and private commissions.

Recognition will also be extended to the Ariel University Center of Samaria which this year had its status established as a University Center and now has 9,000 students from all over the country.

All the bodies concerned will celebrate this achievement with contingents of representatives and members at the ceremony.

The guest speaker will be General Iddo Nehushtan who heads the Planning Directorate of the IDF. He is the son of Ya'acov and the late Devorah Nehushtan. Ya'acov too was a detainee in Gilgil in Kenya.

In addition, the annual distribution of scholarships and other awards to students who are part of the PERACH program will take place.

Exhibition Video Available on the Internet

Many of the poignant moments of the Peace Process between Egypt and Israel were recorded on video. These were combined to make a very moving 6 minute video for the Begin Center's exhibition "No More War". Utilizing the int ernet to spread this message of peace, the video is available on YouTube and on our blog and is accessible to our readers by clicking here or here. We encourage you to pass this video on to all your friends and mailing lists.

Visitors

Mrs. Hannah Evans of Johannesburg, South Africa, sister of Prof. Joe Borman of Jerusalem visited the Begin Center at the beginning of this week. She was most interested in the new exhibition recalling Sadat's visit to Jerusalem in 1977 and was greatly moved by the museum.

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Dr. Thomas O. Hecht, member of the International Board of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation, and Mrs. Riva Hecht, were in Israel on a visit connected with a conference of BESA, which he founded and heads. BESA is the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. They were the guests of honor at a reception in Jerusalem of the Begin-Sadat Center.

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Mr. Hart Hasten, President of the US Friends of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation, who was in Israel for two weeks with his wife, Simona, to visit his family, attended numerous functions arranged by the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. Before returning to the US, he held policy and programming discussions with Harry Hurwitz and Herzl Makov.

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A group of military personnel visited the Begin Center on Monday and toured the museum. When they concluded their tour, the guide who had taken them through the museum informed Harry Hurwitz that this was a very special group. There was among them a great granddaughter of Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Halila, and a grandson of the late Yosef Kr emmerman, who was connected to the family of Ya'acov Meridor. Hurwitz approached the group, especially the above two, and thanked all of them for coming to the Center and the museum.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Yoel Marcus Recalls Begin's 'Vassal' Remark

Bush's baby - and ours

Israel's fate does not depend on whether a trip to the United States is successful, Menachem Begin used to say, in the days of the peace process with Egypt. Once, he even called into his office Samuel Lewis, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and gave him an earful. "Are we a vassal of yours?" he famously asked.

But when Anwar Sadat and Begin landed at Andrews Air Force Base on September 5, 1978, on their way to the Camp David summit, Sadat praised America's involvement. Begin also applauded the U.S. administration as he disembarked from the plane. "The day will come and we will say 'habemus pacem' [Latin for "we have peace"] at Camp David," he said. Later, Begin's aides would join the journalists in singing "Habemus Pacem Aleichem" to the tune of "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem."

Unlike President Carter, a devout Christian from the South who was not a supporter of Israel, and who applied atomic pressure on Begin to give up all of Sinai and its settlements and made him sign a document recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, President Bush is a fan - even a groupie - of Israel.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Sadat's First Peace Agreement, Sort Of

Tom Segev claims T. Kollek made first agreement with Sadat:-

In 1977, I was the bureau chief for Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek. This week I found a few pages of notes I jotted down on the evening of November 20, the day of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit:

Teddy returns to the office after touring the city with Sadat. About two hours later, a call from Rehavam Amir, the chief of protocol [in the Foreign Ministry]. "Dr. Hassan Touhami, the deputy prime minister of Egypt, would like to meet with you." Teddy: "About what?" Amir: "I don't know, but he is ready to cancel his visit to Yad Vashem with Sadat if you come immediately." Teddy: "I'll come." Where is Nahum, the chauffeur? Where is Nahum? We drove in my red Fiat 127. By the time I managed to find a parking place and enter the King David [Hotel], Teddy had already found Touhami and heard what he wanted. Sadat wants to repair Al-Aqsa Mosque and also make a donation to the Coptic church. He wants Teddy to inform the press about this.

Puzzling - amazing - this is undoubtedly recognition of Teddy's status in the whole unified city, but also a gesture that means: I am protecting the eastern city. Teddy says he will consult. Touhami waits. Scurrying about; where is there a phone. Moshe Dayan agrees. We sit on the hotel balcony, autumnal sun, drafting a statement to the press. In English. Lots of nerves. There is no stenographer. Touhami wants different wording. A kind of negotiation takes place. Discussion of almost every word. Also present are Gabi Padon and Ziama Divon, Foreign Ministry.
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A problem with the Copts. They have a conflict with the Ethiopians over some small room in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Israel is taking the Ethiopians' side. Teddy suggests instead of a donation to the church - a donation to the Coptic school. Touhami agrees. A fat person joins us. Othman Ahmed Othman. Minister of construction and a big contractor. He is Sadat's strongman. Half a draft, a draft and a second draft - done. Teddy goes to dictate the text: he is the only one who can read his handwriting. I remain alone with Touhami.

He asks if I am Austrian. No, why? He spent a few years in Austria and I look like an Austrian to him. I am not, but Teddy is. Maybe you can speak German to each other. Touhami - not worth my while, he will win. Asked me for my opinion. My opinion is that this visit will bring war. Tried to persuade me that I am wrong. Touhami: Yes, I will persuade you.

Israel must compromise because it needs peace. Peace is vital for the country and it understands this. There is also international pressure on Israel and an opportunity to reach an agreement without the Soviets. Therefore Sadat believes that there is a chance that [Menachem] Begin will make concessions.

- Does he really believe that? After all, he didn't succeed in reaching an agreement even with [Yitzhak] Rabin and Golda [Meir]. Why with Begin?

Touhami: Precisely with Begin. We had no confidence in either Golda or Rabin. They are weak. We need someone strong.

- And there is a chance that Begin will make concessions?

T: Yes. There were contacts, already a few weeks, in America, in Europe, and there were even Israelis who came to Egypt. Yes, yes, yes, what you are hearing. They came from America and from Europe.

- Ah, you mean Jews?

T: I, thank God, am capable of distinguishing between Jews and Israelis. I tell you that they were Israelis. But for cover they came with American passports. They were disguised as businessmen. They heard what we had to say - we heard them - we passed information back and forth, and that is how this visit was prepared.

- So what will be in the end?

T: All will be well.

- Israel-Egypt? A separate peace?

T: No, not a separate peace, but a model for an agreement, a basis for negotiations between us, and afterward other states as well.

- What will be the basis?

T: Of course, full withdrawal to the 1967 borders.

- The 1967 borders? So why did you bother coming? There will be no withdrawal to 1967. What about the Gaza Strip?

T: The Gaza Strip is not ours.

- Sharm Al-Sheikh?

T: Sharm is ours.

(International force, also along the Jordan and on the Golan, peace within a year to five years.)

- Jerusalem?

T: In Jerusalem we are talking about East Jerusalem. We have no claims on the western city. We are thinking of establishing a separate administration in the eastern city.

- And the Israelis? For example, in the Jewish Quarter?

T: They will be able to keep their citizenship.

- And all the new residential neighborhoods?

T: We will be able to view the Jews' settlement as religious settlement - that will facilitate the question of sovereignty.

- But are you thinking of divided sovereignty?

T: Not to divide the city, but divided sovereignty, yes, definitely.

- And Sadat really believes he will succeed in this move?

T: He believes that if he fails - there will be war.

So that is the crux of the matter. Because it does not appear that Begin can make concessions, the sad conclusion is that the Sadat visit will likely bring war. There is something depressing in this whole festival - the biggest show of all - I want to run wild with enthusiasm - I have to pinch myself to believe that all this is actually happening - But it seems to me that it has no chance and therefore there is no averting war. It's impossible to know with certainty. An insane situation: me and the deputy premier of Egypt in diplomatic negotiations. A senior Egyptian official trying to persuade an Israeli left-winger that peace is possible and the left-winger turning up his nose.

Teddy returned with the paper; he almost got into a fight with the stenographers. In the elevator we met Walter Cronkite. Teddy gave him the scoop. The first agreement.