Word: rabin
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...Concessions. Thus Premier Yitzhak Rabin's government last week decided to demonstrate some diplomatic initiative of its own. From Jerusalem came reports that the government was considering new Sinai concessions in order to resume the Kissinger talks. Foreign Minister Yigal Allon, bound for the U.S. to make some fund-raising appearances, persuaded Kissinger to receive him in Washington in order to emphasize Israel's willingness to continue negotiations...
Inside Israel, debate is growing over what caused the talks to fail and what ought to be done next. Ironically, the suspension of the negotiations was a personal blessing for Rabin; Israel's refusal to accept Sadat's terms gave the Premier his highest popularity rating in political polls since he took office last year. Nonetheless, the government was under fire from both left and right for lack of foresight and policy. "We are a crazy people," suggested Author Yoram Kaniuk, a critic on the left. "The talks fall through, and Yitzhak Rabin becomes a national hero...
Essentially, the debate is between Israeli doves on the left, who seek compromise with the Arabs, and hawks from the conservative right, who believe that Israel should concede almost nothing. About the only things they agree upon are Rabin's lack of policy and the essential requisite that Israel not surrender any territory without peace agreements. They are far apart on how much territory to give up and the mechanics of reaching peace...
...olam Hazeh, and Knesset Member Arie Eliav, 53, former secretary-general of the Labor Party, who resigned his membership last month protesting that Rabin's Labor-dominated coalition government was "bereft of all vision." Avneri, who has long pursued a private dialogue with Arab intellectuals, believes that Israel ought to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization before Washington does, which would foreclose Israeli options. He believes that Israel should withdraw to its 1949 borders, recognize a Palestinian state on the West Bank, and sign a peace treaty in return for Arab recognition of Israeli sovereignty. Avneri faults Rabin for being...
Unwanted Crisis. The policy debate within Israel is bound to grow more bitter, especially since recent polls indicate that 75% of Israelis do not believe their government is doing enough to defend its position abroad. For that matter, 50% do not feel that the Cabinet, despite Rabin's spurt in popularity, has adequately explained its views at home. As the right and left become more strident, that could precipitate an untimely and unwanted political crisis...