Word: weizman
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...this spring, the old bitterness again inflamed relations between Egypt and Israel. Sadat did not help matters when he tried, unsuccessfully, to erode Begin's support inside Israel by meeting in Austria with Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman...
...latest furor was touched off by the Israeli Cabinet's decision to reject Sadat's proposal, informally made to Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman in Austria, that the Begin government respond to his Jerusalem peace initiative with a small gesture of good faith. Sadat had suggested that Israel return El Arish, the capital of the Sinai, and historic Mount Sinai, site of the Greek orthodox monastery of St. Catherine's. If El Arish were returned to Egyptian sovereignty, the President hinted, it could be used as the site for new peace talks. As for Mount Sinai, Sadat hoped...
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...
Although Begin had given advance approval to both the Weizman and Peres meetings with Sadat, the Defense Minister returned home to a scathing attack from other members of the Israeli Cabinet. They accused him of negotiating without authority and using the peace process to burnish his own image. Begin suggested that the Cabinet postpone its discussion on Weizman's talks with Sadat for another week. Furious at this snub, Weizman stormed out of the Cabinet session. Next day he tore a peace poster from a wall outside Begin's office...
...Knesset broke into an uproar. Rabbi 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...