Israel: Scrambling for Advantage

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The prospect: early elections and a vituperative campaign

"We all understood that we reached the point of no return," a Cabinet member said glumly when it was all over. "The Prime Minister to realize that a burden had been from his shoulders."

Thus, with mournful stoicism, an embattled Menachem Begin accepted near demise of his government last week and called for new elections. The Minister's move climaxed weeks of indecision following the collapse of his Likud coalition over a hotly disputed pay raise for the country'sschoolteachers. It set Israel's Knesset to squabbling over the precise timing of the election. It also sent the country's political parties scrambling for advantage in what promises to become one of Israel's most heated and bitterly contested campaigns.

In a bill introduced in the Knesset, Begin proposed that the new election be held on July 7. That date was promptly challenged by some because it coincides with the beginning of the nation's summer vacation. But the opposition Labor Party, led by Shimon Peres, would like to see elections held sooner, in part to take advantage of its current popularity in the polls, and in part because its leadership believes that a strong new government should be formed quickly to cope with Israel's rapidly deteriorating economy.

"Why do we need such a drawn-out, expensive campaign with inflation the way it is?" asked an aide to Peres, referring to Israel's 140% inflation rate. "Besides, no one will take this government seriously once the election date is set." Rather than risk an immediate vote on the floor, however, Labor cautiously decided to fight the matter in committee, where it is probable that a compromise date in mid-June can be worked out.

The debate in the Knesset last week displayed plenty of the Israeli parliament's customary verbal crossfire. As Opposition Whip Moshe Shahal was assailing the Begin government for "setting new world records for inflation, stock market speculation and emigration of Israelis abroad," a heckler broke in. It was Likud Member Ronni Milo, pointing to the visitors' gallery. "Yes," he shouted sarcastically, "we've brought this country to such a state that there's an Egyptian delegation in the gallery." Deadpanned Shahal: "Because of their presence, I crossed out a lot of things I would otherwise have said."

The duelers were referring to a ten-member Egyptian parliamentary delegation that was visiting Israel on a longplanned tour. But if the opposition gloves were on for their benefit, there was little doubt that they would be off for the campaign. "It's probably going to be one of the dirtiest campaigns Israel has ever had," said a ranking Labor member. For one thing, the party's strategists expect a vituperative attack against Peres, quoting various uncomplimentary remarks made by his rival for the party leadership, former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.