1974 – Prime Minister of Israel, first term
First term as Prime Minister of Israel
Rabin assumed the position of Prime Minister on June 3, 1974. During the three years of his term, he promoted policy representing the continuity of Labor Party leadership of the government, yet also changes in personalities at the helm and party willingness to accept changes.
He considered the renewal of the diplomatic initiative and progress towards peace as an imperative and opened negotiations with Egypt on an interim agreement through mediation by the US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. The agreement, one of his outstanding achievements as Prime Minister, was reached after tough and intense negotiations, filled with crises, and signed on September 1, 1975. Eventually, Rabin saw this as the first piece of the full peace agreement with Egypt that was signed four years later by the Likud government under the leadership of Menachem Begin. Following the signature on the agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding was reached with the American government under President Gerald Ford, by which the United States assumed far-reaching commitments for the security of Israel and its economy.
In the framework of Rabin’s attempts to promote communications with neighboring states, he held clandestine meetings with King Hussein and the first covert visit by an Israeli Prime Minister with the King of Morocco.
While working towards peace, Rabin had to cope with acts of terror by the PLO against Israeli citizens. He objected to any negotiations with the PLO and argued that the Palestinian problem could be solved in the framework of relations with Jordan. He adopted a harsh and uncompromising policy towards Palestinians supporting the PLO.
In the second year of his term, Gush Emunim established its first settlement, Sebastia, in Samaria. Rabin opposed Jewish settlement in centers of Arab population yet refrained from harsh confrontation with the settlers. After some hesitation, he approved the establishment of the Jewish settlement in Kadum. Thus, the way was paved for the ongoing settlement which he opposed.
On March 30, 1976, Land Day took place in the Galilee with the Arabs there demonstrating against the confiscation of their lands. During the turbulent demonstrations, the security forces responded with live fire and six demonstrators were killed. The event evoked harsh reactions from the Arab public, as well as among the Jewish public, and this convinced Rabin that the relations of the state with the Arab minority required reconsideration.
Throughout the period of his term, economic growth continued, the social security network was preserved, and the gaps in society were reduced. These successes were appreciated by the public. The Entebbe Operation to release the prisoners taken from the Air France plane raised his status throughout the world, but incidents of corruption among his party’s leading figures and the residue from the Yom Kippur War connected to them, placed a dark shadow over the accomplishments of his government and enraged many in opposition.
On December 10, 1976, the first F-15 planes from the United States arrived in Israel. Their landing after the beginning of the Sabbath resulted in a government crisis with the religious parties. Hoping that early elections would lead to increasing the power of his party, Rabin submitted his resignation to the president on December 21. From that point and until the election of the new Knesset, Rabin’s government operated as a transitional government.
Amidst the election campaign, it was discovered that his wife had a bank account in the United States, which at the time was not legal. After she was brought to trial, Rabin decided after his three-year term, to resign. Shimon Peres was appointed to replace him.
Rabin’s decision to share the responsibility for his wife’s violation of the law drew tremendous public admiration.
“I can no longer be the party candidate for prime minister. Not because of the severity of the crime… but because I violated the law, even if only technically, and I must act according to my education, my tradition, my personal code of behavior – and pay the price. So it is for any citizen, all the more for the Prime Minister seeking the faith of the people for another term.”
