MENACHEM BEGIN HERITAGE CENTER, JERUSALEM | VOLUME 6, ISSUE 35, JUNE 24, 2010
Begin On Jerusalem
Recently, an information request was received here at the Begin Center. The writer, who had participated on a tour of Jerusalem, claimed he had heard from his tour-guide that Menachem Begin was in favor of the internationalization of the Temple Mount.
We know that while Mr. Begin sought to downplay the religious tension over the Holy Site, any scheme of internationalization was anathema to him. Perhaps his first Foreign Minister, Moshe Dayan, had expressed support in some interview in the idea. Those visitors ascending from the museum in the Barry & Sindy Liben Jerusalem Elevator well know Begin's deep-seated attachment to Jerusalem as a united city under Jewish control.
In any case, with Jerusalem once again on the diplomatic agenda, we bring to you Begin's remarks during a joint press conference with then Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, which are also included in the forthcoming book to be published by Gefen on the peace process. The event took place on June 4, 1981. Sadat was asked about a proposed Arab sovereignty over East Jerusalem and added that Mr. Begin did not agree to this plan. Begin then addresses the questioner:
I would like to add that the question of Jerusalem did not come up today in the conversation between the President and myself. ..He’s entitled to his opinion. I can only explain to you what is my standpoint on this issue, and there are four points:
One: Jerusalem is one city, undivided, and indivisible. Secondly, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, since the days of King David, for eternity. Thirdly, there cannot be any division of any kind, of Jerusalem, and there can not be two sovereignties in Jerusalem; - the only sovereignty is that of Israel. And fourthly, guaranteed by law forever, free access to the holy shrines to all members of all religions, whether Muslim, Christian or Jew.
Venue Hosting
The Menachem Begin Heritage Center played host to three events this week organized by outside bodies. More and more we are witnessing the selection of the Center as the venue for conferences, symposia, special evenings of music, screenings and other types of events.
On Sunday, Israel's Media Watch conducted its Annual General Meeting with guest speaker Caroline Glick who discussed who widely-viewed "We Con the World" satire clip produced by her Latma group. As it happened, a Begin intimate, Dr. Meir Rosenne, veteran of the Camp David Conference and the Foreign Ministry, was inducted as IMW's new President.
On Wednesday evening, a special assembly of Ethiopian immigrants was held to commemorate the death of many thousands of Ethiopian Jews in their treks fleeing Ethiopia on their way to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the main guest.
A conference on Jewish Psychology, on the theme "Coercion and Compulsion in Treatment and Education " was also held at the Center on Monday.
Tours
There has been a marked increase in groups seeking to join the special tours that the Begin Center makes available. For example, A two-to-three hour walk from Jerusalem's former Central Prison in the Russian Compound to the Center, including stops at Jabotinsky's 1920 apartment, the former Commercial Center at Mamilla, the old Machaneh Yisrael neighborhood, the King David Hotel and the old Railway Station has become a sought after route to learn of the period of Mandate Palestine and the Irgun's fight for liberation along with other groups in the Yishuv.
Another tour being developed in one in the footsteps of Jabotinsky in Jerusalem to include the apartment where he was arrested in 1920; the Lemel School where he trained the first Hagana recruits; the offices of the Haaretz newspaper and other locations.
Yehuda Avner's Book – A Review
From a review at the American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/164876 :-
"It should be pointed out that Avner devotes much more ink to Menachem Begin than the other prime ministers. I must say, however, that what is revealed depicts this figure in a different light than is often perceived. After reading Avner's account, I would regard that of all the Israeli prime ministers, Begin was probably the most brilliant, and he probably also has the distinction of being the most controversial."
Begin Center Blog Diary
Our friends can also find additional material on Menachem Begin at a blog we maintain:
http://begincenterdiary.blogspot.com/