Weekend Roundup: Israel After Begin’s Washington Visit

Premier Menachem Begin, his fundamental differences with President Carter over the methods of achieving peace fully aired, returned to a sharply divided Israel. His supporters are rallying behind him. His critics, alarmed by his failure to gain American endorsement of Israel’s position, are demanding a change of policy and, possibly, new leadership as one of the most bitter political debates in the nation’s history began to take shape.

Several hundred Begin supporters, responding to exhortations from the pulpit during Sabbath services, held a solidarity demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence last night. It underlined the growing polarization between “hawks” and “doves.” A dovish religious group called “Other Zionism” and a group called “Peace Now” announced that they would stage a sit-in in front of Begin’s home to protest “the political failure of Begin’s policy.”

Begin returned from the U.S. at noon Friday to a warm reception by Cabinet ministers, senior military officers, Knesset members, the two chief rabbis and an extraordinarily large turn-out of the press corps.

He told them that his talks with Carter in Washington were difficult–“the most difficult three days of my life” that “we were presented with demands which we could not accept,” that “there were points on which we partially agreed” but “I cannot divulge at present what they are” and “there were points on which we shall continue to discuss.” He also referred to continuing contacts with Egypt “direct” and “via the U.S.” and pledged to “use all ways in pursuance of peace.”

But Begin was confronted on his return with what some observers see as an incipient revolt within his own coalition Cabinet. Before he landed, Israeli newspapers were featuring an interview with Defense Minister Ezer Weizman who called for the immediate establishment of a “national peace government” embracing the Labor opposition Weizman said this was necessary because Israel was in the midst of on unprecedented crisis with the U.S. and must present a united front to Washington.

But some circles quickly interpreted his remarks as Weizman’s first move to depose Begin. They pointed out that Weizman knows quite well that Labor would not join the Likud-led coalition government unless its policies were substantially altered, an unlikely prospect as long as Begin remains at the helm. Sources close to the Defense Minister told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it would be “premature” to view Weizman’s proposal as a move to change the political leadership.

Begin, when asked for his reaction, told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport that he had not read the interview. But if Weizman meant a “government of peace, we already have one,” Begin said, and if he meant a national unity government, “I always was and am today wholeheartedly for it.” It was learned from reliable sources, however, that Weizman had informed Begin in advance of what he intended to propose but did not elicit the Premier’s blessings. Weizman already has been fiercely attacked by all branches of Likud.

BEGIN’S ACE CARD

Begin’s ace card at the moment appears to be a widespread rumor that-the Carter Administration actively seeks his ouster. As expected, this has drawn an indignant response from the Israeli public. Yehuda Ben Meir, Whip of the National Religious Party’s Knesset faction, introduced an urgent motion over the weekend to protest “the American intervention attributed to news reports that an American personality called for the change of government in Israel as a prerequisite for peace.

When Begin was asked about the rumor, he noted that the Premier of Israel is elected by the nation and the Knesset, not by any American diplomatic representative. He was applauded by the assembled reporters.

But sources close to Begin are already linking Weizman’s proposal and the rumored American intervention to a sinister plot against the Prime Minister in which, they hint, the opposition and perhaps sections of the news media are involved. Begin acknowledged that he has troubles in his own political establishment when he told reporters “Give me some time to put my house in order. I have just arrived.”

NATURE, MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEM

The exact nature and magnitude of his troubles were subjects of intense speculation here over the weekend. Within hours of the appearance of the Weizman interview, Likud’s Liberal Party wing issued statements rejecting any attempt from any quarter to depose Begin. But the statements were formulated in a patriotic context as replies to the rumored intervention from Washington.

Many observers believe that the Liberals, more moderate on foreign policy matters than their Herut partners, may play a decisive role if and when any momentum builds up to get rid of Begin. Only a week ago, they openly opposed Begin’s choice of a candidate to succeed President Ephraim Katzir and endorsed their own leader, Elimelech Rimalt, for the Presidency. The Liberal Party holds 15 Knesset seats. Should it, or a part of it, defect from Begin’s policies and should they be joined by the NRP’s dovish faction, Begin’s coalition would crumble.

Weizman, himself a member of Herut, refrained in his interview from attacking Begin’s policies and agreed with the Premier that the U.S. was, in effect, demanding total withdrawal by Israel from the occupied Arab territories which, he said, Israel can never accept. But observers noted that while arguing for Israel’s continued presence on the West Bank, the Defense Minister cited purely security needs. He did not claim, as Begin has done repeatedly, that the West Bank belongs to Israel for historical and religious reasons.

His interview contained implicit criticism of the Premier’s handling of the peace process. Weizman maintained that Israel “could have done more and should still do more” to revive direct negotiations with Egypt. He recalled his own conversations with President Anwar Sadat and stressed that he still maintains contacts with Egypt’s War Minister Gen. Mohammed Gamassy. However, Weizman was disenchanted with American mediation efforts. He claimed that the shuttle diplomacy conducted by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Alfred L. Atherton had been counterproductive.

OPPOSITION BY THE LABOR ALIGNMENT

Begin is due to make a political statement to the Knesset tomorrow. He faces a strong attack from opposition leader Shimon Peres. Peres flatly rejected the idea of a “national peace government” in interviews published over the weekend. He stressed that the government’s policy must be changed before the political structure of the Cabinet can be changed.

Peres was supported by former Foreign Minister Abba Eban who challenged the Democratic Movement for Change and the “practical” elements within the NRP and the Liberal Party to rally around a more realistic foreign policy and force the government to change its course, even under the present parliamentary structure.

Specifically, Eban said the government should change its stand on the issue of Jewish settlements in occupied Arab territories and on its claim that Security Council Resolution 242 is not applicable to the West Bank with respect to territorial compromise. “I think we could correct the situation simply by accepting a moratorium on settlement activity during the negotiating period and reiterating our fidelity to Resolution 242 without the superfluous addition which accepts that 242 has no application whatever to Judaea and Samaria,” Eban said.