Elections to the 11th Knesset were held on 23 July 1984. They resulted in the Alignment obtaining 44 seats, Likud 41, Tehiya 5 and twelve other parties getting from 1 to 4 seats. None of the two major parties was able to form a coalition without making difficult concessions: Labour to the Communists and the Likud to two ultra-orthodox anti-Zionist parties.
It took six weeks of difficult negotiations to bring about the creation of a government of national unity. In an unprecedented agreement (see document 2), the new government was launched on 13 September. Following are the defense and foreign policy guidelines of the government. The key points are I.D.F. withdrawal from Lebanon; retention of full sovereignty over united Jerusalem, Israel's capital; no annexation of additional territory; no talks with the P.L.O. and rejection of the establishment of a separate Palestinian state; the establishment of 5-6 new settlements within a year; resumption of ties with the countries of Africa and Eastern Europe, and above all the continuation of the peace process.
At the center of the activity of the National Unity Government presented to the 11th Knesset are the following tasks:
1. (A) Recognition of the shared fate and common struggle of the Jewish people in the homeland and the diaspora of exile.
(B) A sustained effort to create the social, economic and spiritual conditions to achieve the State of Israel's central objective - the return of diaspora Jews to their homeland.
(C) Boosting immigration from all countries, encouraging immigration from western countries, and consistently striving to save persecuted Jews by bringing them to safety and realizing their right to immigrate to Israel.
2. The central political objectives of the government during this period are: Continuing and extending the peace process in the region; consolidating the peace with Egypt; and withdrawing the I.D.F. from Lebanon while ensuring the security of the northern settlements.
3. (A) The government will act to cultivate friendly relations and mutual ties between Israel and all peace-loving nations.
(B) The government will continue to foster the deepening of the ties of friendship and understanding between the U.S. and Israel.
(C) The government will strive for a resumption of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and with the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America that have severed their ties with Israel.
4. Israel's foreign and defense policies will aim to ensure the nation's independence, to better its security, and to establish peace with its neighbors.
5. The government will strive to increase the strength, deterrent capability and endurance of the I.D.F. against any military threat, and will take firm action against terror, regardless of its source.
6. United Jerusalem, Israel's eternal capital, is one indivisible city under Israeli sovereignty; free access to their holy places and freedom of worship will continue to be guaranteed to members of all faiths.
7. The government will continue to place its desire for peace at the head of its concerns and will spare no effort to promote peace.
8. The government will work to promote and strengthen the mutual ties with Egypt in accordance with the peace treaty. The government will call on Egypt to fulfill its part of the peace treaty with Israel and to give it substance and content in keeping with the spirit of the treaty and with the intention of its signatories, including a full resumption of representation and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
9. The government will work to continue the peace process in keeping with the framework for peace in the Middle East that was agreed upon at Camp David, and to resume negotiations to give full autonomy to the Arab residents in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District.
10. Israel will call on Jordan to begin peace negotiations, in order to turn over a new leaf in the region, for the sake of [the region's] development and prosperity. The Israeli government will consider proposals raised by Jordan in the negotiations.
11. The Arabs of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District will participate in determining their future, as stipulated in the Camp David Accords.
12. Israel will oppose the establishment of an additional Palestinian state in the Gaza District and in the area between Israel and Jordan.
13. Israel will not negotiate with the P.L.O.
14. During the term of office of the unity government, there will be no change in the sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District except with the consent of the Alignment and the Likud.
15. (A) The existence and development of settlements set up by the governments of Israel will be ensured, and the extent of their development will be determined by the government.
(B) 5-6 settlements will be established within a year. The determination of their names will be made by mutual consent within a week of the date of the establishment of the government.
(C) Implementation of the decision of previous governments on the establishment of as yet unestablished settlements (whose names will be listed in an appendix that will be added within a week of the establishment of the government) will take place in subsequent years, as per a timetable to be determined by the plenum of the National Unity Government.
(D) The establishment of new settlements will require approval by a majority of the cabinet ministers.
16. The government will do everything necessary to ensure peace for the Galilee. Security accommodations will be determined to enable an I.D.F. withdrawal from Lebanon, within a short period of time to be fixed by the government.