The Age of the Generals: Begin

“I hope that I will be remembered as someone who prevented civil war- this, for me, is more important than having been the supreme commander of the underground movement, Prime Minister, the peace treaty with Egypt.” Today, when public image outweighs ideology, Menahem Begin’s integrity, modest life style and commitment to principles, stand out. He was defeated in 8 election campaigns, after he offered an ideological alternative to the ruling Labor Party, yet he achieved the impossible and won the elections of ’77. He started out with the historic peace agreement with Egypt, and ended with the quagmire of the Lebanese war, withdrawn into the confinement of his home.