Yitzhak Rabin by Itamar Rabinovich

Author:Itamar Rabinovich [Rabinovich, Itamar]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780300212297
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2017-01-15T07:00:00+00:00

5

Fall and Rise, 1977-1992

FAILED LEADERS are rarely given a second chance. Rabin was to be an exception. By responding to adversity with tenacity, taking full advantage of his skills, and acquiring the political toolbox he had so glaringly lacked during his first term as prime minister, Rabin would first reestablish a leadership position for himself in the Labor Party and then go on to build a strong persona in the Israeli public mind as “Mr. Security.” What Rabin lacked in charisma he compensated for with his authority, directness, and integrity. A six-year tenure as a popular, authoritative minister of defense would be the perfect platform for regaining the leadership of the Labor Party and the premiership.

But all of this seemed very remote in May 1977. In the fifty-four years of Rabin’s public career as a soldier, diplomat, and political leader, the years 1977-80 represented the lowest ebb. His term as prime minister ended in disgrace; he watched as his rival Peres replaced him and his party was voted out of power; and he was blamed by many for the electoral defeat of May 1977.

In the aftermath of May 1977 Rabin made two major decisions: first, to remain in politics as a member of the Knesset, and, second, to settle the score with Peres, whom he held at least partly responsible for his fall and largely for the difficulties he had throughout his tenure as prime minister. In the May 1977 elections Rabin asked to be given the number 20 on the Labor Party’s list of 120 names—the same number he had been given in the 1973 elections. It was a clear signal: Rabin was distancing himself from the party’s leadership but staying in the game. He did not particularly enjoy the role of Knesset member but soon enough was drawn into more significant activity. Surprisingly, public opinion polls revealed that he was quite popular with the Israeli public. He was not deeply hurt by the “dollar account” affair, in fact was even given credit for his willingness to share the responsibility with his wife. He was, however, less popular with his colleagues in the Labor Party leadership and apparatus, who did hold him responsible, at least in part, for the 1977 defeat. A pattern was thus established that remained relevant for the next decade: Rabin was popular with the public, more so than Peres was, while Peres dominated the party’s institutions.

This pattern was temporarily disrupted by the publication of the Hebrew version of Rabin’s memoirs in early August 1979. Most of the book was a standard, fairly detailed memoir, but the chapters dealing with Rabin’s first tenure and his relationship with Peres were a bitter tirade. He accused Peres of undermining him, of leaking sensitive information, of turning the press and public opinion against him. Rabin used rough language, accusing Peres of playing into the hands of the radical settlers by supporting their project and calling Peres “an indefatigable intriguer.” Rabin was not known as a particularly eloquent person, but over the years he did coin a number of memorable phrases, and this was to be one of them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.