Word: premier
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Meanwhile, Sadat's meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Labor Party Leader Shimon Peres the week before in Austria had stormy repercussions in Israel. The Egyptians have barely concealed their frustration with Premier Menachem Begin, who they believe has no interest in negotiating for peace. Asked whether he met with Peres to try to split the Israeli government, Sadat termed the charge "the kind of black propaganda with which Menachem Begin tries to inflame the Israeli people." In a speech marking the 26th anniversary of the Egyptian revolution, Sadat declared: "It is possible to establish peace...
...Menachem Begin's finest hour. During a rowdy session of the Knesset that was televised nationally last week, Israel's Premier lost his temper in a debate with Labor Party Leader Shimon Peres about Peres' talks with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Vienna, came close to weeping, and tore up pieces of paper. At a closed session of Labor delegates, even former Premier Golda Meir wondered aloud whether Begin had lost his senses. Meanwhile, a new "denial unit" in Begin's office, created to offset critical press stories about him, was working full time to explain...
Begin's angry outburst even spilled over into the Knesset cafeteria after the debate, where the Premier, according to numerous witnesses, cursed Peres in Russian and Polish. He also disclosed that Peres had met secretly with King Hassan II of Morocco in Rabat following the Sadat talks and "even dared to ask my permission to meet with [Jordan's] King Hussein." Labor Party officials seeking future meetings with Arab leaders, he warned, would not be issued passports. TIME has learned that Hussein, who was honeymooning in England, had requested a meeting with Peres through former King Constantine...
...stormy Knesset session had begun with opening remarks by Peres on his talks with Sadat. Begin had not yet found time to receive Peres privately and thus had not heard a full and confidential report. Nonetheless, the Premier accused Peres of "telling us fantastic stories" about the talks. "I really want to ask," said Begin, "did he [Peres] ask his partner in the three-and-a-half-hour discussion if he, Mr. Sadat, is ready to make a territorial compromise? For me a part, and for you a part?" Begin then grabbed a piece of paper and ripped...
...Menachem Hacohen, a member of the Labor Party, asked: "What is that? A peace poster?" (The reference was to an earlier incident in which Defense Minister Weizman had ripped down a poster outside Begin's office.) Called out Meir Peil, head of the left-wing Shelli Party: "A Premier on the rostrum ripping up papers?" Begin answered with sarcasm: "Did I wake you up, Knesset Member Peil? Shalom alechem...