Word: weizman
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Likud leaders insist that the occupation under a new government will not become as anti-Arab as West Bankers fear. Ezer Weizman, who as Likud's probable choice for Defense Minister would become the new overseer, may even withdraw the army occupation force and replace it with border police. Says Weizman: "I think we should start changing our Arab and military government policies. If I discover misuse of power, humiliation on purpose, or mishandling of the civilian population, heads will be chopped...
...moderating effect." Most political observers in Israel took the opposite view: Begin was clearly signaling to Arabs and Americans alike that Israel's new government was prepared to resist any pressure from Washington for a peace settlement on unacceptable terms. Dayan and Likud's campaign manager, Ezer Weizman,* who is expected to become Defense Minister, played principal military roles in the wars of 1956 and 1967, both of which began with Israeli surprise attacks. To some, a Begin-Dayan-Weizman team sounded ominously like a war Cabinet...
...They were once related by marriage. Weizman's wife is the younger sister of Dayan's ex-wife Ruth, who was divorced from the former Defense Minister...
...counterargument is that Begin, in emerging from opposition to leadership, may be drawn to what Walter Lippmann once called "the suction of the center." Campaign Manager Weizman puts it another way: "There is a great difference between the behavior of the main opposition party and the major political power which has to lead the country." As for Begin's supposed intransigence, Weizman insists: "Believe me, give him time and he will behave as the head of a government. He will negotiate more than all the Premiers before him. You will see him becoming more flexible than anybody believes...
Israel's supporters, and perhaps also its Arab antagonists, have ample reason to hope that Weizman's judgment will prove correct. For if a Begin government is unwilling or unable to negotiate reasonably with those Arab leaders who seem ready to move toward peace, the fearful alternative is another era of turmoil?and perhaps bloodshed ?in the Middle East...