Israel’s political pot came to a sudden boil today following the announcement at midnight that former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, a Labor MK, has agreed in principle to accept the post of Foreign Minister in a Likud-led government offered him by Likud leader Menachem Beigin.
The development, occurring at the outset of coalition negotiations, stunned and infuriated the Labor Party leadership, irritated the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC) with which Likud was bargaining over Cabinet portfolios and caused dismay in some Likud circles. In recent days it had appeared that Leon Dulzin of Likud’s Liberal Party wing, was slated for the job of Foreign Minister in the next government. Some political sources said that if the post didn’t go to Dulzin, it would be offered to the DMC as an inducement to join a Likud coalition.
It was learned that the offer to Dayan was made by Beigin several days ago. The Likud leader was hospitalized Sunday night for a cardiac ailment. Dayan accepted the offer last night and the Likud Executive, meeting in Beigin’s hospital room this morning, endorsed it.
Dulzin was the only member of the Executive who did not attend the meeting. Dayan visited Beigin at the hospital this evening. He did not say immediately whether he would quit the Labor Party, relinquish his Knesset seat and join Likud. A Cabinet minister is not required to be a Knesset member.
A BOMBSHELL TO LABOR AND DMC
The announcement came as a bombshell to Labor. Veteran MK Yisrael Kargman, recently retired from the Knesset, denounced Dayan for “political prostitution and treason.” Labor Party leader Shimon Peres, long a disciple of Dayan in Labor’s Rafi faction, termed the move “very strange” and admitted that Dayan had failed to inform him in advance of his intentions.
Peres said Dayan was now obligated to return his Knesset mandate to Labor. Kargman demanded Dayan’s ouster from the party, contending that the former Defense Chief had planned his move before the elections and thus appeared on the Labor list “under false pretenses.”
The DMC, which held its first round of coalition talks with Likud on Tuesday, was angered that it was kept in the dark about Beigin’s offer to Dayan DMC sources said this demonstrated that Likud lacked confidence in the DMC leadership. The only high Cabinet post offered the DMC by Likud so far was the Deputy Premiership for its leader, Prof. Yigal Yadin, a portfolio that is largely symbolic.
The DMC’s first reaction of displeasure over the offer of the Foreign Ministry to Dayan was to cancel the second round of its coalition talks with Likud that was to have begun this morning. Yadin told newsmen he regarded the offer as a one-sided step. The DMC leadership was expected to meet later today to discuss what steps to take in view of Likud’s “surprise.”
Prior to Beigin’s announcement, Yadin seemed favorably disposed toward a coalition with Likud. In an address to the DMC national council, he said, “In coalition negotiations it is out of the question for any potential partner to say: ‘accept my platform or goodbye.'” He conceded that there would be ideological problems with Likud but said “We must consider what is best for the country….We must be open-minded.” He made no mention in his address of the DMC’s electoral reform proposals, its key domestic policy plank, which Likud has said was unacceptable.
LIKUD CIRCLES BITTER
There was bitterness in some Likud circles that they too were not informed in advance by Beigin. Dulzin, who is Treasurer of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization and is expected to be elected chairman of the WZO and Jewish Agency Executives, was taken aback. He was prepared to relinquish the top WZO post to which he has long aspired to become Foreign Minister. On the other hand, Gen. Ezer Weizman, Likud’s election campaign manager, appeared delighted by the news which he received from Dayan himself.
Yosef Burg, leader of the National Religious Party (NRP), a probable coalition partner of Likud, reacted favorably. “It is an important step to strengthen Israel in the political arena,” Burg said today. But other NRP circles were miffed that they were not informed in advance, especially as they began coalition talks with Likud only yesterday.
SCHINDLER WELCOMES DAYAN MOVE
The first overseas Jewish leader to comment on the subject was Rabbi Alexander Schindler, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, who arrived here yesterday at the invitation of Likud to discuss Israel’s election results and its meaning for relations between American Jewry and Israel.
Schindler said he welcomed the proposal of Dayan for Foreign Minister. He said that whatever misgivings there were among Jews and non-Jews in the U.S. over Likud’s election victory stemmed from the fact that Beigin was not sufficiently known in America. Dayan, he said, is well known in the U.S. where he is regarded as moderately “hawkish” if, in fact, a “hawk” at all.
Schindler, accompanied by Yehuda Hellman, executive director of the Presidents Conference, observed that American Jewry is linked to Israel, not to any specific political party in Israel and will continue to support the Jewish State regardless of who heads its government.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER
Political pundits were trying to explain the reasons behind Beigin’s offer to Dayan and Dayan’s tentative acceptance. Beigin himself said from his hospital bed that he acted in the interests of the State because Dayan is a man of international stature. Political observers interpreted Beigin’s remarks as reflecting his belief that a showdown with Washington over the occupied territories is inevitable and imminent. Therefore, he wants to strengthen those elements in Israel, among them Dayan, who are categorically opposed to any territorial concessions on the West Bank.
It was also noted that both Beigin and Dayan must be aware that Beigin’s health is fragile and that there is no heir apparent within Likud should Beigin be unable to undertake the duties of Premier. While Weizman, a former Air Force commander (and Dayan’s brother-in-law before the latter’s divorce) is number two man in Likud’s Herut wing, the Liberal Party wing could be expected to oppose Weizman as party leader. Weizman was decisively defeated by Beigin when he challenged the latter for Herut leadership several years ago.
Beigin’s attitude toward him is still ambiguous, although he is considered most likely to become Defense Minister in a Likud government. Finally, large sections of the Israeli public regard Weizman as impulsive, immature and not Prime Ministerial material. Yet apart from Weizman, there is no one in the Herut or Liberal Party to take over Likud’s leadership in the event that Beigin’s health forces him to step down. Therefore, Beigin looks to Dayan whom he respects and who shares many of his political views, observers said.
As for Dayan himself, observers believe he regards his career within the Labor Party to be at a dead end and that his political aspirations can be realized only by switching to Likud.
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