Settling the immigrants

There was a constant stream of immigrants, and they faced many difficulties, there used to be a long list of suggestions, but there was never enough money. Some did not like the houses built, but some stayed there even during the 6-day war. It was a favourite target of rockets by Arabs. Houses were being built continuously for seven years. They were built for the Arabs too.

The relationship with Arabs

Golda stated clearly that the country wanted the Arabs to stay with them, they knew there was nothing to fear, but they had to leave, and they probably knew that they would come back. Around 590000 Arabs left the country between 1947 and 1948. Golda observed that those who stayed in Israel had an easier life as compared to those who left. All the facilities were provided to Arab villages, Golda herself was involved when she served as a labour minister. She narrated an incident from an Arab village where a road was built to carry water uphill. ( The water had to be carried to the top of the hill, the well was at the foothill ) After it was completed Golda visited the village. A beautiful young woman got up and poetically expressed her wish, she thanked the ministry for easing the burden of the feet of men but requested to ease the burden from the heads of women. So next year she went to turn 10 water taps on.

Golda shared an incident when she had to contest for the post of mayor in Tel Aviv, and had to be out of the cabinet. She could not win because, at the last minute, the religious block could exploit the fact that she was a woman and managed to exploit the fact. The role of women in building the Jewish nation-state was ignored totally. Golda expressed her opinion on the point without mincing the words, but the open conflict was avoided because there were many issues to engage.

After working continuously for 20 years first for the Jewish community and then for the state, Ben Gurion decided to resign as a prime minister and as a defence minister too. He wanted to go to a kibbutz, as he was exhausted. Though the state which was hardly 5 years old, encircled by enemies, he was determined to carry out his plan and have some respite. From January 1954 to 1955 he was not in public life, he then retired from public life.

Moshe Sharett who had the portfolio of foreign affairs, became the prime minister and remained till Ben Gurion returned, he wanted Israel to be viewed as a progressive, moderate and civilised European country. He was an effective diplomat and negotiator. He too wanted the continuous attacks by Arabs to end and for this wanted to put pressure on powers so the Arab states would stop aiding infiltrators. He wanted to protest effectively at the United Nations and repeatedly wanted to have presentations. He understood that retaliation by Israel's defence forces caused a storm of criticism though sometimes it was unavoidable.

Ben Gurion and Sharett were different personalities, but both were socialists and Zionists. But Ben Gurion an activist, who preferred acting on something rather than explaining, judged a course of action by the result. The central consideration was if the action was good for the state in the long run. He felt that ultimately the nation would be judged by actions taken, not by the diplomatic statements or how the international press wrote. He was never interested in ' being approved '. He wanted ' sovereignty, security, consolidation and real progress ' for the nation.
Retaliation by Israel against the terrorists was the area where both had different opinions. Both wanted to end the attacks, but the methods to be adopted were different. Ben Gurion always thought of the citizens who were constantly under Arab attacks. Their security was the top priority, and worry of negative reaction came later.
Their differences were very sharp and took an unimaginable turn when the idea of making Golda the secretary of the party was being discussed, suddenly Sharett proposed that he wanted to become the secretary. Golda was offered the foreign ministry.

(There was a lavon affair, which played havoc and resulted in a bitter fight between the two. The information on the Lavon affair is available in the media, and it is not the focus of the book too.)

Thus Golda had to take the responsibility of the foreign ministry in a very unusual situation, though Sharett briefed her in detail but did not accompany her on the first day. It took some days to get accustomed to the people and work with them,but as there was so much at stake, they worked well with each other in the ministry.

Clashes and the war

This was the time when fidayeen activities were at its peak. Jews were killed, they operated from the Gaza Strip and had the support of all the countries that never approved of the very existence of Israel. Fidayeens we supported by Egypt, and Nasser openly applauded them. United Nations could not put halt to it. Golda expressed her feelings describing the situation,' world calmly accepted the concept of the right of war, but was so indifferent about the rights of peace '.

Golda wrote that Russia was providing an unending supply of arms,it made no bones about its intention of reconquering Palestine. ( Nasser put it this way ) Russia had an anti-Jewish campaign in the entire country.
US and Britain refused to sell arms to Israel but France came to Israel's help. The Suez Canal was nationalised by Egypt. The military strength of Egypt and Syria increased, and this worried some.

To prevent the destruction of Israel, it began secretly to plan the Sinai campaign.

France offered arms and had been secretly planning of Anglo-French assault on the Suez canal. Ben Gurion was invited with a delegation, and Golda was a part of it, she could not even give a hint of the visit at home. Even Cabinate was told a few days before the campaign started. It started on 29th October.

A delegation visited France secretly which Golda was a part of, to work out the details of the aid the French promised.

On the 24th the reserves started moving secretly, the impression was given that Iraqi troops were moved into Jordan, it was a preparation against any assault. A meeting of all the ambassadors was convened. Golda had to keep it a secret and felt in a way lonelier too. She was confident of being victorious but was aware of the suffering and losses it might result in. There was no way to face fidayeen.

She spent the last weekend with her daughter and the family at the Revivim kibbutz, and thought must they go on like this forever, worrying about children and grandchildren and fighting, killing and being killed?

The campaign started after sunset on 29th October and ended on 5th November. In less than 100 hours the army crossed and captured the whole Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, an area that was two and a half times larger than Israel. It was speed, surprise and confused Egyptian army. She travelled the area and understood the extent of the victory. Egypt was defeated, the entire stock of arms Egypt collected became worthless, and a third of its army was broken. The Arabs ( refugees ) in Gaza were kept in poverty, destitution, in degrading situations in semi-starvation. In her mind, she compared them with what was done in Israel for the resettlement of Jews who migrated from many countries. They needed resettlement.

In the desert and stony hillside, Jews established new villages and built roads, houses, and schools. Dug wells brought water from a distance. Jews from Yemen were sick and undernourished, many were on the verge of death, but they were fed and their diseases cured.

On the other hand, Arab terrorists were sent to destroy and kill, fidayeen were sent to throw bombs in synagogues and baby homes, Golda stated in the UN General Assembly. The focus was to find the source of hatred of Arabs, said Golda. She observed that the conflict kept the warring sides at the mercy of outside forces. Arab countries were not ready for peace proposals or non-aggression. She felt this fatal game should not be an obstacle in the way to progress of Arabs.
She pleaded at the UN that peace was possible. The life has to be more productive and honourable. She compared the money spent on arms to be utilised in making progress and making life more comfortable. The money could be spent on constructive purposes.
She wanted Israel to be recognised and work with Arabs for peace. She certainly wanted to meet Arab representatives personally and appeal for peace.

30,000 Egyptian soldiers were found wandering in the sand, and 5000 were taken prisoners of war and saved as they were on the verge of dying of thirst. The war Golda wrote was fought for peace and to bring the neighbouring countries to accept their existence. 172 Israelis were killed and 800 were wounded.
Even Israel had to withdraw, according to Golda it was to give rise to more wars,bloodier and costlier. Russia screamed out loud about ' unrestrained aggression ' of Israel in spite of seeing the total defeat of Egypt and clouding its invasion of Hungary.