Begin: a Mixed Bag

Submitted by John W. McGinley (United States), Apr 6, 2010 at 07:46

Netanyahu is no Begin. And Israel would, today, be better served by a Prime Minister named Begin than by a Prime MInister named Netanyahu. That having been stipulated, Begin had his own shortcomings. Most noteworthy was his ill advised to turn the intially-planned security ban (I believe 20 kilometers was what was planned) along Israel's northern border into chase after Arafat into the hell-hole of 1982 Beirut. Slinking back from that ill-advised incursion made Israel look weak. Not long afterwards Begin went into his famous depression and ceased to be an effective leader.

But again, let it be made clear. Israel would today be better served by having Begin at the Helm. He would not have permitted a twerp like Obama to humiliate the Office of the Prime Minister -- and in that manner, Israel itself -- the way Obama did to Netanyahu.

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