While the immediate challenge facing the new government was the crisis in the Israeli economy, Mr. Peres devoted attention to foreign policy matters. He promised the return of the IDF from Lebanon and "to guarantee the safety of the Galilee settlements " . He called on King Hussein to negotiate with Israel, on Egypt to return to the peace process. He called on the Soviet Union to open its gates to Jewish emigration and resume ties with Israel. He reaffirmed Israel's traditional special ties with the United States. He promised reconciliation at home and conciliation with the Arab neighbours. Text:
On the seventh of Av, 5744, the president charged me with forming a government; three weeks later I reported to the president on the many difficulties I was encountering on the way, and on the changes of overcoming them. The president granted me an extension to perform this task.
Today, this morning, in accordance with the law, I informed the president and the speaker of the Knesset of the formation of a new government, a national unity government comprising the Alignment, the Likud, the National Religious Party, Shinui, Shas, Morasha, and Agudat Israel.
This is a government which has been born on divided ground, built not in accordance with the usual precedents, and completed by delicate work in straightening out difficulties, but it embarks on its course bearing the true hope of the people: To reconcile those holding opposing views; to exploit to the full what is held in common, so as to better serve our people; to cope with pressing challenges in many varied areas.
This is a government which will have to rely on good will no less than on the power of the majority; this is a government which will have to prove that to govern means to persuade.
The very fact that the two large political camps in Israel have decided to join forces to move the nation forward has already created tremendous expectation in Israel, and considerable admiration outside it.
Let us hope that a new and good style will take its place alongside the differences of opinion; let us pray that unity of action will compensate for the historic and current differences which exist between us, which exist in our midst.
The challenges facing the I Ith Knesset and, obviously, the new government, are pressing and demanding: In the economic sphere, immediate, intensive action is necessary to calm the stormy economy, to stabilize the economy, to renew Israel's [economic] growth, to reduce inflation, to improve the balance of payments, to prevent unemployment, to increase productivity, and to maintain the fair income of every working person.
We are beginning at a point of crisis in the economy. But our country is endowed with human assets, and with a latent dedication which can be mobilized to build a productive and modern system in a competitive world, a world of science and technology which are advancing at a dizzying pace.
Even if it takes a considerable amount of time, I have no doubt that it is in our power to mobilize so as to bring Israel into the forefront of the advanced nations in the spheres of science, technology, education, industry, agriculture, and tourism.
Basically, we will heal the economy not by imposing harsh measures, but by maintaining a constant dialogue among all its components: The Histadrut, the manufacturers, the farmers, and the government.
In the defense sphere, the main task is to guarantee the safety of the Galilee settlements and to bring our soldiers home.
United Israel will continue to be independent Israel: A peace-loving nation, capable of defending itself through mobilization of its sons and real upgrading of its means of defense. We will not rely on miracles. We will rely on our own strength, on our beloved Israel Defense Forces, which we will foster increasingly so that they will serve as a worthy defensive support.
In the political sphere, we will continue to encourage the peace process. We appeal to all our neighbors and invite them to genuine and serious negotiations to settle the disputes between us, and to grant all the children of the region, regardless of nationality, creed, or race, a peaceful future.
From this podium, and at this special moment, I call on King Hussein to come to the negotiating table, in order to attain genuine peace. We are prepared to discuss with Jordan every proposal from its side, on the assumption that it [Jordan] will be open to proposals coming from our side. Jordan is surrounded by hostility and Israel is surrounded by hostility; and the hostility between the two of them can be settled by courageously engaging in permanent dialogue, which will also make things easier for both of them. Let the Jordan River be a river that waters the fields of the farmers, and not a rift of endless disputes and threats.
We aspire to improve and intensity our relations with Egypt. Peace requires constant nurturing. We will endeavor to settle the differences of opinion between us, and we will hope that Egypt will return its ambassador to Israel. The Camp David Accords have already contributed to the security of our two countries and stirred new hopes. But our two nations must see not only to maintaining the peace itself, but also to exhausting its latent potential. The next stage between us and the Egyptians must be a stage of economic and political cooperation for the prosperity of the entire region, for the benefit of all the residents.
The friendship of the American people is very precious to us. We appreciate its political support, its defense aid, and its economic assistance. Not only does a deep and long-lasting friendship exist between us, but also a shared vision - the vision of all the truly free nations - and the belief that, in the final analysis, democracy is not only the finest of systems, but also the strongest of them all. We will continue to work together in mutual trust and closer cooperation.
Between us and the Soviet Union, there are disagreements as well as severed diplomatic ties; even if the differences of opinion remain, we call on the Soviet Union to resume its diplomatic ties with Israel, which it severed in a moment of anger. Our demand of the Soviet Union contains only two items: That Russia redirect its efforts from the rejection front to the front of dialogue in the region, and that it open its gates before our people.
Only this morning the president, the speaker of the Knesset, and the government received the following moving message:
"We, the Jews who dwell in the Soviet Union but who aspire with all our might to live in the land of Israel, call on you, honorable president, Knesset of Israel and government of Israel, to take urgent political measures for our return to our homeland. "
"We have the right, ultimately, to rely on your courageous aid; we have the right to remind you of our part in the Jewish national obligation; we have the right to appeal to your national feeling; we have the right to expect you to take serious, responsible, and practical action."
"Remember! Time is pressing: Tomorrow may already be too late! The responsibility for procrastination and lack of action will be on your heads, too."
This message was signed by the Jews from Leningrad, Moscow, Riga, and Odessa. And indeed, we have but one reply to the Jews of Leningrad, Moscow, Riga and Odessa: Your fate is our fate. We shall not forget your situation or your expectations.
We shall work for closer ties with the European continent; we shall open wider the windows [of opportunity] created in Africa; we shall intensify the dialogue with Latin America, and we shall once again knock on great China's door-[for] there is no need for the geographical distance between us to be translated into a pointless diplomatic distance.
Our principal effort must be invested at home. Let us mobilize the best that we have - despite opposing viewpoints -to root out enmity, violence, incitement, discrimination, and intolerance within our good land. The real historic mission of the Jewish people is fundamentally a moral mission - to spread the credo that the pre-eminence of man lies in his relations with his fellow men and neighbors, and elevation of the belief in humanity in all that we do.
We have an important educational infrastructure; and there is no more important investment in the future of the people and the country than the investment in the educational enterprise, from kindergarten through university; nothing will contribute more to reducing the gaps on the one hand, and to Israel's advancement on the other, than devotion to the educational system.
Israel is founded on the rule of law. Everyone is equal before the law, and there is no one who is above it, neither individuals nor official bodies. The government will work determinedly to ensure that the law, and not arbitrariness rules in Israel.
Apart from the law, we will foster mutual respect: Between religious and secular, between people of various ethnic origins, between people of varying ages, and between members of different peoples.
We have models of unique life-styles among us: The kibbutz, the moshav, the rural community, the development towns. They have already done much, and they have the power to do yet more. The map of Israel will not be secure unless all the settlements scattered over its length and breadth are able to develop and put down solid roots, without pause and permanently. Diffusing the population on the one hand, and firmly rooting the settlements in all corners of the land [on the other], will guide us in determining national priorities.
We have a special obligation to assure Arab and Druze citizens both genuine equality and a feeling of genuine equality; to aid them to develop the villages; to enable educated people to find fields of activity which suit their qualifications.
The State of Israel is the state of the citizens who live in it, and the state of the Jewish People. We believe that the place of every Jew is ultimately in the homeland of our people; but also believe that Israel has an interest in the fate of every Jew and every Jewish diaspora wherever it may be. The relationship between Israel and the Jewish diaspora is unique in character; and as long as forty years ago, Israel's first prime minister, my teacher and mentor, the unforgettable David Ben-Gurion, stated that "the building of the state and the execution of its mission will not be possible without definite pioneering efforts and without a combining of forces between the Jews of Israel and the Jewish People."
I cannot conclude my speech without thanking all the parties, persons and aides who have done so much to enrich Israel by this daring and innovative experiment; to harness that which is within us - even if it be composed of contrasts - to a great and new joint effort for the sake of this country's future.
I especially thank the outgoing prime minister, Mr. Yitzhak Shamir, whom 1, in the course of long hours, have learned to esteem for his powers of discussion and for his desire for real cooperation to establish this unity government.
You have the basic guidelines of the government in front of you and I shall not go over them. I shall now present the list of members of the cabinet.
List of Members of the Cabinet:
Shimon Peres - Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Religious Affairs
Yitzhak Shamir - Alternate Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Yitzhak Navon - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Culture
David Levy - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Housing
Moshe Arens - Minister
Yosef Burg - Minister
Haim Bar-Lev - will serve as Minister of Police when the police is separated from the Interior Ministry and established as an independent ministry to be called the Ministry of Police, with Knesset approval.
Mordechai Gur - Minister of Health
Yigael Hurwitz - Minister
Ezer Weizman - Minister in the Prime Minister's Office
Gad Yaakobi - Minister of Economic Planning
Yitzhak Modai - Minister of Finance
Aryeh Nehemkin - Minister of Agriculture
Moshe Nissim - Minister of Justice
Yitzhak Peretz - Minister
Gideon Patt - Minister of Science and Development
Yaakov Tsur - Minister of Immigrants Absorption
Haim Corfu - Minister of Transport
Moshe Katzav - Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
Yitzhak Rabin - Minister of Defense
Amnon Rubinstein - Minister of Communications
Moshe Shahal - Minister of Energy
Yosef Shapira - Minister
Ariel Sharon - Minister of Industry and Trade
Avraham Sharir - Minister of Tourism
I shall not deny that I stand before you very moved, and burdened with a sense of great responsibility demanded by the job. I know that one may not ignore reality, nor may one fear what is to come - and that the future ultimately belongs to those who believe.
I shall do my very best, out of great faith in the history of our people and in the demands of its heritage, as I bear in my heart the prayer so beautifully expressed by the prophet Ezekiel: "And I shall give them one heart and a new spirit, that they may observe my laws and my statutes... and be a people unto me."
Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of requesting, as per section 15 of the Basic Law: The Government, that the Knesset vote its confidence in the government.