Begin Government Under Attack from Dmc

The Council of the Democratic Movement for Change served notice last night that the DMC would seriously consider leaving Premier Menachem Begin’s Likudled coalition unless the government adopts a more active and forthcoming peace policy. A resolution to that effect was adopted by a 42-10 majority with four abstentions.

A 36-30 majority favored another clause in the same resolution that questioned the credibility of the government’s negotiating position and criticized its settlement policies. The resolution was presented by Transport Minister Meir Amit who said it was motivated by his experiences on a recent visit to the U.S. “I could explain Israel’s security needs, the question of not returning to the 1967 borders, “he said.”I could not explain the logic of settlements semi-settlements or ghost settlements.”

If the DMC, with 15 Knesset seats, quits the government, Begin’s coalition would be shaved down to its original precarious margin of 62 seats in the 120-member parliament. It would also be a severe psychological blow. DMC leader, Prof. Yigael Yadin, who is Deputy Premier, prefers to remain in the coalition. He and Justice Minister Shmuel Tamir did not participate in the Council balloting last night but they agreed to submit the matter to a vote.

The resolution said that security considerations and preservation of Israel’s Jewish, democratic character should be the only guiding principles in negotiations. This is in sharp contrast to the historic-religious links that Begin and his supporters cite as justification for Israel’s permanent retention of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The resolution called on the government not to approve of any activity which might create a lack of credibility and harm peace negotiations. This was a direct attack on the Begin policy of establishing Jewish settlements in the occupied Arab territories regardless of the negotiating process.