In this letter, Mr. Begin explained to the President the reasons that led his government to reject his plan for the Middle East. He was annoyed at Mr. Reagan's failure to consult with Israel, to mention the heroism of the Israeli soldiers and the people of Lebanon since June, and repeated his call in favour of full autonomy for the inhabitants of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District. Finally, he pleaded with the President, "A friend does not weaken his friend, an ally does not put his ally in jeopardy. " Text:
President Ronald Reagan
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Ron,
I thank you for your letter of August 31, 1982, which Ambassador Lewis was kind enough, upon instructions from his Government, to bring to me to Nahariya, now free of rockets and shells.
I enclose, herewith, the resolution of the Cabinet, September 2, 1982, adopted unanimously. As each of the paragraphs is elaborated, I have little to add except to state - taking, if I may, a leaf from your book - that the government of Israel will stand by its decision with total dedication,
I have also read your speech which preceded by twenty-four hours the Cabinet consultation with my colleagues. It serves as additional testimony to your opinion or resolve.
Indeed, my friend, great events did take place since last we met in Washington in June. May 1, however, give you a somewhat different description of those events.
On June 6, 1982, the Israel Defense Forces entered Lebanon in order not to conquer territory, but to fight and smash the armed bands operating from that country against our land and its citizens. This, the I.D.F. did. You will recall that we could not, regrettably, accept your suggestion that we proclaim a ceasefire on Thursday, June 10, at 6.00 hours because at that time the enemy was still eighteen kilometers from Metulla on our northern border. However, twenty them you can hit every city, every town, each township and village, and last, but not least, our principal airport in the plain below. We used to live penned in eight miles from the seashore; and now, Mr. President, you suggest to us in your proposals, that we return to almost that same situation.
True, you declare that you will not support the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza district. But such a date will arise of itself the day Judea and Samaria are given to Jordanian jurisdiction. Then, in no time we and you will have a Soviet base in the heart of the Middle East. Under no circumstances shall we accept such a possibility ever arising which would endanger our very existence.
Mr. President, you and I chose for the last two years to call our countries "friends and allies". Such being the case, a friend does not weaken his friend, an ally does not put his ally in jeopardy. This would be the inevitable consequence were the "positions" transmitted to me on August 31, 1982, to become reality.
I believe they won't.
"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest." (Isaiah, chapter 62).
Yours respectfully and sincerely,
Menachem.