Behind the Headlines Groping in the Dark

Behind the headlines that describe Israel’s attitude towards the eventual interim agreement with Egypt, a touching reality exists. A group of patriotic people are struggling with their conscience, making every effort to come to the right decision for the future of their country. The sensational headlines do not–cannot–tell the real story of the Israeli leadership’s groping its way in the present complicated situation.

The uniqueness of their task stems from the fact that never before has Israel faced such dangers. The Yom Kippur War and its aftermath proved the potential resources available to the Arab world in its battle against Israel. For the first time since the establishment of their State. Israelis have realized the price they must pay for their survival. After October 1973 the Arab danger is concrete, near and threatening.

Moreover, for the first time Israel is governed by relatively new politicians who lack political experience. The “change of guard” in the national leadership was swift and sudden. Men who had never before served in the Cabinet now cope with the most responsible national problems.

Another phenomenon that has had an impact on the present special situation is the inner dissolution of the Labor Party. Premier Yitzhak Rabin has failed, so far, to fill the vacuum created by the disappearance of Golda Meir from the party’s leadership. Rabin is now blamed by many political observers for the creeping paralysis which affects the Labor Party and with falling to become the party’s leader. One of the immediate consequences of this is the frequent rebellious votes of the Labor Party’s members in the Knesset, who do not hesitate to violate the government’s wish and coalition discipline.

SEARCHING FOR A LEADER

The effects of the present state of confusion can be seen quite clearly in the Knesset corridors: Men from various parties seek each other out, in a common effort to find support for their views. Politicians hold meetings, in which they try to analyze the situation. The entire Israeli political community seems to be searching–for a leader, a prophet, a miracle, that can rescue it from the psychological and emotional distress-in which it now finds itself.

The politicians are dealing with the unknown; they feel that their decisions will have an impact on the history of their State. Nobody really knows what Egypt’s real intentions are. People ask themselves constantly: can we rely upon Egyptian declarations and American promises? Would Israel not be risking its future by withdrawing from the passes and the oilfields without an equivalent return?

On the other hand, the alternative seems worse. No serious Israeli leader wants to bring American-Israeli relations to crisis-point. All know that such a development could endanger Israel’s future just as critically. People are torn between the hope that something has changed in the Arabs’ attitude towards Israel and the fear that there is no real change, but only new political tactics.

PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS, POLITICAL INTRIGUES

These sincere concerns and doubts are often mingled with personal considerations and political intrigues. Politicians use slogans to promote their personal interests. Knesseters vigorously debate the present complicated situation–but bear in mind constantly the inner political deployment and its impact on their personal ambitions.

Plainly, personal-political considerations do impinge upon the decision-making process. They do all over the world. But in Israel today people cannot help asking themselves whether the considerations of internal politics do not dominate too extensively the making of foreign policy. To what extent, people ask, is Rabin’s attitude towards the Egyptian or American demands influenced by Moshe Dayan’s hard-line position? The question is also asked regarding Defense Minister Shimon Peres.

And political observers who follow Abba Eban’s public advocacy of a new interim agreement with Egypt note that his views must be considered against the background of his permanent striving for a come-back to an executive power.

It is in this delicate and complex situation that the future of the country will be determined. The politicians involved in the decision-making process use the mass media to increase their influence on the discussions. They leak selective and misleading information: they use all their powers of persuasion to bring columnists to adopt their views; and they do not hesitate to denounce their political rivals, constantly striving to foster the impression that their views can command a majority.