The main foreign policy issues discussed by the Prime Minister in this interview were Lebanon, sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia and the situation in Hebron. Mr. Begin noted that there has been a steady deterioration in Lebanon in the first few months of 1981, with mounting attacks on Israel's northern settlements. He again reiterated Israel's commitment to the Christians of Lebanon. He also criticized the United States for the proposed sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia. Excerpts:
Q: Mr. Prime Minister, let us turn to the issue of Lebanon. You have recently taken the opportunity several times to state that Israel has a profound commitment to the Christian minority in Lebanon. Could you define what the limits of this commitment are?
A: I have always spoken of a moral commitment, and I stand by this... We see a Syrian occupation army, which, for example, the Americans once thought was a peacekeeping force preventing a civil war. Now our American friends admit that this is not the case, and the Syrian army is not a stabilizing factor but rather the opposite: It has proven, as the Secretary of State said, all its brutality by indiscriminately murdering men, women and children... We have Arafat's organization of murderers ... the lowest organization ever to arise, with the exception of the Nazis: It plans the murders of men, women and children. That is its sole - not only its principal aim. And the Christian minority has in recent years been in constant danger of extinction. Therefore, Israel has helped it to fight for its survival. In all fairness, I must emphasize that Israel's aid to the Christian minority began with the previous government, headed by Mr. Rabin. Our government has ... increased this aid. We, the Jewish people, know what a threat to our existence is, what it means to have men, women and children killed. Not only can we not remain indifferent to such phenomena, we cannot allow others to remain apathetic. I can say that as a result of what we have done in the last two weeks, the United States - and even Europe has woken up.
Q: Sir ... What circumstances would have to be created for Israel to intervene physically in Lebanon, in order to defend the Christians...?
A: ... There are certain questions that if you answer them while you are serving in a responsible official position, sometimes any answer can cause damage to a certain issue. Therefore I request that you absolve me from having to give an answer further to the one I have already given.
Q: ... In view of the aid that Israel extends to Major Haddad, and since Major Haddad conducts an independent policy in southern Lebanon, is there no danger that Major Haddad, by virtue of his actions, will drag Israel, unwillingly, into superfluous involvement in Lebanon?
A: First of all, no one is dragging us, and even if someone tried to, we just wouldn't be dragged... We make our own decisions. As to Major Haddad's forces, we help them ... and there is no need to hide this fact - in fact we are proud of it. By the way, not only Christians are threatened there, but also Shi'ite Muslims, and they are Major Haddad's friends. So we certainly have some influence over him, but he has said, "We are part of no country - including Israel. We are fighting for our lives and no one can give us orders." And therefore, to anyone who comes to us with complaints about our relations with Major Haddad, we tell the truth: We have some influence (and) if we use it, it is to prevent an attack on a U.N. force, on U.N.I.F.I.L., which must be respected and must truly restore peace. And there are several U.N.I.F.I.L. units - not all of them, but some of them - who are very active against that organization of murderers belonging to Arafat. They prevent them from encroaching on the territory where Major Haddad is located and certainly (from encroaching on) Israel... There are hundreds of armed terrorists within U.N.I.F.I.L. lines. U.N.I.F.I.L. must not be attacked, and if there is any danger, and the possibility of preventing it, we prevent it. These are the orders that were given to all army commanders on duty in the north, and they know it.
Q: Mr. Begin, in your estimation, is it possible to prevent the AWACS advance warning aircraft deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia?
A: We are carrying on the campaign with all possible vigor. When the Secretary of State was here, a significant part of our talks were devoted to this subject. We said simply that according to our experts, if AWACS planes get to Saudi Arabia, Israel will be exposed to Saudi eyes. And Saudi Arabia is considered moderate by some nations - what a paradox. As far as its hostile attitude towards Israel is concerned, it is one of the most fanatical countries, after Libya. The cry for "Jihad" came from there ... they have made themselves a confrontation state. If they get these sophisticated surveillance planes, they will see everything in Israel, every airfield, even every plane taking off. This is a very grave danger since they are likely to give the pictures to Arab states. So we said, you must know we are friends ... allies, we don't have to reach a split over such kinds of disagreements - we do disagree over this issue ... please think the matter over...
A: What is there to react to? If we get this, I'll be very happy. I think that it's a very good idea, but for the moment I can not say ... that we will get it.
Q: ... In both the Israeli and the foreign press there have been articles depicting very strained relations between Jews and Arabs living in Hebron, (reports) of a series of very unfortunate incidents, and of a very negative attitude on the part of the Jews in Hebron towards the Arabs there. Once, as defense minister, you ordered an investigation into the state of affairs - and do you intend doing something about this?
A: The situation is being studied. I want to say that the contrary is true. In essence relations are very good. Everyone respects everyone else. Occasionally, as happens all over the world, there are incidents. We must take pains that they be eliminated, and that there be peace. We want to live in peace and mutual respect with our neighbors. And I am sure that the good and loyal Jews in Hebron, in Kiryat Arba, also want to live in peace and mutual respect with their Arab neighbors. And we will certainly exert influence in that direction.
Q: And did you instruct, sir, that these reports be investigated to see if they could be substantiated? Some very humiliating things were reported.
A.- That is done automatically. We govern naturally. Sometimes I give such orders, sometimes we don't even need them: They do it themselves. Sometimes I am consulted, they want to know my position. Sometimes I initiate orders. It is unclear that there was - and will be - an investigation of every incident. But be aware, do not be misled by one or another incident. We have mentioned tonight the incident between the Arabs and Druze, between Kafr Yasif and Julis. So what does that prove: that Arabs and Druze cannot live together? That was a great tragedy, but I assume that there will be a "sulha".
Q: Perhaps this shows that such a situation can lead to a certain explosion or clashes between Jews and Arabs in Hebron.
A: Why must there be an explosion? We will calm the situation. Understand: There are similar things happening throughout the world. You have no country without incidents. But sometimes a certain event is blown up, and immediately pictures are taken, and immediately there are newspapers headlines, not only in Israel, but also abroad. We cannot always prevent this, but all of this is exaggerated and unnatural and untrue. There is an incident, it must be done away with and we must live together in peace.