Menachem Begin on TW

Can't believe it's already been 40 years since we signed the #CampDavidAccords! This durable, lasting peace didn't only break the cycle of war in our stormy region, it offers hope that the cycle of peace between Israel and its neighbors can be further extended in the future. https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1041770195335999488 …

With the help of God, may we arrive at the longed-for day for which all our people pray - the day of peace. For indeed, as the Psalmist of Israel said, "Righteousness and peace have kissed,"and as the prophet Zecharia said, "Love truth and peace."

And on this day, with your permission, worthy and learned Members of the Knesset, I wish to offer a prayer that the God of our common ancestors will grant us the requisite wisdom of heart in order to overcome the difficulties and obstacles, the calumnies and slanders.

and in respect for every faith.Mr. Speaker, this is a special day for our Parliament, and it will undoubtedly be remembered for many years in the annals of our Nation, in the history of the Egyptian People, and perhaps, also, in the history of nations.

We shall defend this right of free access, for it is something in which we believe - in the equality of rights for every man and every citizen,

This positive phenomenon did not exist for 19 years. It has existed now for about 11 years, and we can assure the Muslim world and the Christian world - all the nations - that there will always be free access to the holy places of every faith.

You witnessed the fact, known to all who come from throughout the world, that, ever since this city was joined together, there is absolutely free access, without any interference or obstacle, for the members of all religions to their holy places.

Allow me to say a word about Jerusalem. Mr. President, today you prayed in a house of worship sacred to the Islamic faith, and from there you went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

if on neutral ground - no opposition. Anywhere. Let us clarify - even before the Geneva Conference convenes - the problems that should be made clear before it meets, with open eyes and a readiness to listen to all suggestions.

However, should problems arise between us prior to the convening of the Geneva Conference, we will clarify them today and tomorrow and, if the President of Egypt will be interested in continuing to clarify them in Cairo - all the better;

We are prepared, not only, to sit with representatives of Egypt & with representatives of Jordan, Syria & Lebanon if it so desires - at a Peace Conference in Geneva. We proposed that the Geneva Conference be renewed on the basis of Resolutions 242 & 338 of the Security Council.

let us conduct the negotiations as I have asked and propose to open them, to conduct them, to continue them persistently until we succeed, in good time.

All the Peoples of the region are equal, and all will relate to each other with respect. In this spirit of openness, of readiness of each to listen to the other to facts, reasons, explanations - with every reasonable attempt at mutual persuasion,

We shall conduct the negotiations as equals. There are no vanquished and there are no victors.

and that, in the course of the negotiations, they have reached solutions which have made possible the signing of agreements or peace treaties. That is the path we propose to follow.

Anyone who has studied the history of wars and the annals of peace treaties knows that all negotiations for peace treaties have begun with differences of opinion between the parties concerned,

Everything is negotiable. No side shall say the contrary. No side shall present prior conditions. We will conduct the negotiations with respect. If there are differences of opinion between us, that is not exceptional.

Anybody who says that, in the relationship between the Arab People - or the Arab Nations in the area - and the State of Israel there are subjects that should be excluded from negotiations, is assuming an awesome responsibility.

However, I call upon the President of Egypt and upon all our neighbours: do not rule out negotiations on any subject whatsoever. I propose, in the name of the overwhelming majority of this Parliament, that everything will be negotiable.

President Sadat knows, as he knew from us before he came to Jerusalem, that our position concerning permanent borders between us and our neighbours differs from his.