Israeli Democracy in Action

Extremists of the right and left of Israel’s political spectrum treated President Carter and his principal foreign policy advisors today to a sample of their explosive feelings on Israel’s negotiations for a treaty with Egypt.

Carter, seated on the dais during the verbal machine-gunning of speeches by Premier Menachem Begin and Labor Party leader Shimon Per### who heads the opposition in the Knesset, appeared to have mixed reactions to the outbursts from the benches. His own address, which was the first of the three in the Knesset chamber, was heard with silent respect. He was warmly-applauded by the Knesset membership as a whole and the crowded galleries as they rose to greet him and bid him farewell.

Other Americans present appeared to react similarly, including Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Defense Secretary Harold Brown, and National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who sat in the front row of the gallery. Veteran Middle East specialists such as Ambassador at large Alfred Atherton and Ambassador to Israel Samuel Lewis had seen such scenes before and seemed relaxed from the start.”

At one point, Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan jose from his seat on the front bench and went upstairs to talk with Vance Jewish frequently spoke to Vance and Brown during the speeches and the interruptions. Americans in attendance included Edward Sanders, the President’s advisor on Jewish affairs who is a member of his delegation on this visit to Egypt and Israel.

Present also were Theodore Mann, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Maxwell Greenberg, national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, George Klein, vice president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and chairman of its committee on international affairs; Bernice Tannenbaum, president of Hadassah; and Elmer Winter, former president of the American Jewish Committee.

After being interrupted several times by Likud MK Geula Cohen, a constant critic of Begin’s handling of the negotiations with the Egyptians, Begin turned to Carter and said in Hebrew, which was simultaneously translated into English:

“Mr. President, before you is the Israeli Knesset It contains various parties and various views As you see, our democracy is beautiful. No Knesset member from any faction interrupted your address with even one word (Here an interjection ensued.) But they have interrupted me–and I want to say that it is perfectly legitimate to interrupt the Prime Minister during his speech in this House. I only hope they let me have my say. I trust that if any attempt is made to black this right of mine, that the Speaker of the Knesset will afford me his protection. That, too, is legitimate.”

Following further interjections, Begin said in English: “How beautiful is our democracy, Mr. President.” Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir, after demonstrating infinite patience, finally called for a vote which was affirmative to expel Cohen from the chamber. As guards, two women and two men reached her seat, she waved them aside and got up and walked out of the chamber.