"YIHYEH B'SEDER"? Aaron Lerner (Although given before the elections, these excerpts from a speech by Aaron Lerner in Raanana at a forum sponsored by the Jerusalem Post on May 19, 1996, offer valuable insights into the Israeli mindset.) One of our painful problems has a name. A given name and a surname. It is the combination of two words --'yihyeh b'seder' ["it will be OK"]. This combination of words which many hear in the day to day life of the State of Israel is unbearable. Behind these two words is generally hidden everything which is not OK. The arrogance and sense of self-confidence, strength and power which has no place. The 'yihyeh b'seder' has accompanied us already for a long time--for many years. And it is the hallmark of an atmosphere which borders on irresponsibility in many areas of our lives. The 'yihyeh b'seder', that same friendly slap on the shoulder, that wink, that 'count on me', is the hallmark of the lack of order; a lack of discipline and an absence of professionalism; the presence of negligence; an atmosphere of covering up; which to my great sorrow is the legacy of many public bodies in Israel - not just the IDF. It is devouring us. And we have already learned the hard and painful way that 'yihyeh b'seder' means that very much is not OK. So said the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in a talk at the Staff and Command School in August of 1992. Ladies and gentlemen, in a few moments I would like to illustrate how Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Labor-Meretz government have brought the reckless 'yihyeh b'seder' approach to unprecedented heights. I will describe how this government's entire Middle East policy is a house of cards of yihyeh b'seder's. I will cite examples of gross negligence in the details of the Oslo Agreements. I will discuss how the Labor-Meretz government bends over backwards to ignore gross violations of those agreements. I will also address how the wishful thinking of 'yihyeh b'seder' has so seriously crippled rational thought over such issues as the Golan, the need for nuclear deterrence, as well as Israel's general interest to maintain a qualitative military edge over her neighbors. I hope that I also will have time to point out how Peres deceived the public on many occasions--from denying the existence of the Holst letter which gave the PLO a foothold in Jerusalem, denying the existence of the December 22 PLO-Hamas agreement which allows Hamas to attack Israel - [in this case Peres points out that it is not an "agreement" but just a "joint declaration" !] , and claiming that the Lebanon agreement somehow would stop attacks against our soldiers when anyone who can read English knows that this is not the case. Because of time limitations, I will not address economic policy, but I would like to point out that real economic growth began with the wave of immigration from the former USSR - under Likud rule--rather than as a result of the so-called "peace process." But before going any further, I would like to sketch out the Likud's plans on the key issue of the day: Arab-

Israeli relations. A Likud government will enable the "Palestinians" to freely manage their lives within the framework of self- government. But foreign and security matters and subjects which require coordination will continue to be the responsibility of the State of Israel. A Likud government will oppose the establishment of a PLO state. This self-government can run the health, education and welfare system. It can operate a local police to maintain local law and order. It can regulate commerce within the area of the self-government. So what can't it The 'yihyeh b'seder', that same friendly slap on the shoulder, that wink, that 'count on me', is the hallmark of the lack of order; a lack of discipline and an absence of professionalism. do? It cannot have an army. It cannot allow people to enter the area of self-rule without Israel's consent. Simply put, they cannot open the floodgates to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of "Palestinians" now living outside of Israel. As for security matters, Israel reserves the right to exercise complete freedom of action in all places in the struggle against terror. A Likud government, for example, will insist on its right to inspect people and material entering or leaving the area of self-government. Israel will retain full control over security areas which are vital to Israel's defense as well as the Jewish towns. United and undivided Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The Likud will enforce the law prohibiting activity of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO within Jerusalem--and for that matter, within all of Israel. Israel's Eastern border will be the Jordan River. As per the Golan Law, which was accepted by the Tenth Knesset, the Golan is under Israeli sovereignty. Israel will carry out negotiations with the Palestinian Authority to achieve a permanent arrangement of peace, on condition that the "Palestinians" completely honor all of their obligations. And what about the Oslo agreements? Israel will honor international agreements. Israel will recognize the facts on the ground within the context of the agreements and will act to reduce the dangers arising from them. The "Palestinians" are going to have to settle for less than a state. The country won't be flooded with Arabs. Israel will not be played for the fool as Arafat walks us through the plan of the destruction of the Jewish State in stages. And Mr. Assad won't dip his heels in the Kinneret. The sooner that we lower the expectations of the Arabs, the greater the chances that we can get out of this mess. Regarding Oslo let me just cite two quick examples: Under the terms of the agreement, Israel can- (Continued on p.6)

June 1996               - 5 -               Outpost