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Herut’s Role in New Knesset

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Begin speaks to the new Knesset focusing on his disappointments and lack of confidence in the new Government. Throughout the speech, he repeats that within the Government “‘yes’ is not ‘yes’; ‘no’ is not ‘no.'” He first discusses members’ actions in finding a loophole around the law the fifth Knesset adopted. He also discusses the actions of the new Minister of Labour, who demands Sabbath Law. This Minister demands the Ashdod Port to be closed on Shabbat, but because this could damage the national economy, he will determine if the port needs to operate on Shabbat. Ultimately, he argues that national action needs to happen and shares the actions Herut wants to take.

May We be Worthy of the Confidence of 250,000 Voters

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Begin analyzes the Sixth Knesset election results and criticizes Mapai’s actions and the newspapers’ roles in the election process. Begin emphasizes that although he is sad, he is proud of GahalBegin mentions that Mapai has control over foreign language newspapers, which matters because there are hundreds of thousands of Israelis who read them. He also mentions how newspaper “Yediot Ahronot” had a stronger bias towards Mapai and newspaper “Ma’ariv” was hostile towards Gahal. Also, regarding advertisements, for each one Gahal had, Mapai had four or five. Despite all this, Begin is hopeful for the future because votes received in one election do not accurately predict the votes for the future. He ends with saying the Herut-Liberal bloc will sit together in the Knesset not just because of the formal union, but also because of over a quarter million of voters’ confidence in them.

Let Me Dispel the Fears From Your Hearts

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Begin wants to dissolve the discomfort Ha’aretz readers have about Etzel. He begins by emphasizing that it is most important that the readers contemplate his words. Then he continues to mention that no nation besides Israel has ever questioned its liberators’ actions. Instead, it “is considered a privilege by them.” Begin then goes into detail about the hatred he and Etzel felt from the Jewish Agency’s leader, Ben Gurion, prior to the negotiation. He said that Ben Gurion used a system of propaganda, which he referred to as “the hate system.” Along with propaganda, Begin dismantles the lie stating that Etzel did not want a united army after the emergence of the State. Lastly, he mentions the importance of Ben Gurion saying that taking down Altalena might have been a mistake. Through providing a thorough understanding of events that happened in the past, Begin ends his piece with: “it is not we [Etzel] who must correct any image, but they who must correct their angle of vision.”

We Strive for True Freedom

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Begin discusses Gahal’s philosophy during a time when Gahal attempts to get elected in the Histadrut elections. He first writes how he is proud to be part of Gahal and his hopes for Gahal impacting Israel’s future. If Gahal were to get elected into Histadrut, then the Histradrut would represent all of Israel, not just Mapai. Then he talks about three types of states. The first two are states with social anarchy and social dictatorship. The third, which he makes clear is Gahal’s vision of a state, is a state with social responsibility. Begin states the philosophy of Gahal, which consists of three freedoms: “freedom of professional association,” “freedom from any enforced interlocking of the professional union with the ownership of the enterprises,” and “freedom of any interconnection between the regime and the work-provider.” His article ends by stating that social responsibility is based on having both freedom and justice.

It is Not a Matter of Protocol but of Heart and Mind

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Begin delivers a speech at a mass meeting in Tel Aviv to protest the arrival of the first German Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Rolf Pauls. Throughout the speech he weaves together the history of Nazism, Dr. Pauls’ past connection with Nazism, and the loss of 6 million Jews. Begin expresses frustration that the tens of millions of Germans who supported Hitler are still residing in Germany and Dr. Pauls comes to Israel representing them. Begin shifts to speak about his disapproval of Levi Eshkol’s kind words to the German people. Begin also expresses his frustration regarding the German Chancellor’s words regarding Israel-Germany relations. Begin then acknowledges that not only members of Herut are present at the demonstration, and that this is a forum for all of Israel. He closes telling the audience to walk together in silence in memory of the Jews who perished in the Holocaust.