Foes Laud Begin’s Role in Starting Ethiopia Rescue

As head of the government that sent Israeli troops into Lebanon and initiated policies now blamed for bringing the country to the verge of economic collapse, former Prime Minister Menachem Begin has not lately been the subject of much public praise.

At least not until it was disclosed that Begin was the initiator of an effort that so far has rescued about 14,000 Ethiopian Jews. About 7,000 of those Jews, called Falashas, were brought to Israel within the last two months as part of a clandestine airlift known as “Operation Moses.”

In Parliament earlier this week, Prime Minister Shimon Peres, once Begin’s chief rival, acknowledged the former prime minister’s role with these words:

“This is . . . the right time to discharge a debt of honor to Menachem Begin, whose government invested efforts and resourcefulness to make possible the first, hidden trickles (of Falashas) that have blazed a trail.”

Even the Jerusalem Post, a newspaper that usually has little complimentary to say about the Likud bloc, which Begin once headed, featured an article the other day recalling his contribution.

And the whole affair appears to have increased concern among Likud’s opponents that the charismatic former leader might be thinking about a political comeback.

Speaking about the praise Begin is getting now that his role has come to light, former government spokesman Zeev Chafets said: “He deserves it. He gave the order to make this a major national priority.”

Chafets recalled that Begin, soon after taking office in 1977, asked then-President Jimmy Carter to intercede with the authorities in Addis Ababa on behalf of the Ethiopian Jews. Other specific actions that he may have taken are still under a veil of government secrecy.

Chafets said the reclusive former prime minister, who resigned in September, 1983, fought opposition from National Religious Party leader Yosef Burg to press forward with the rescue effort, even though Burg was a key to Begin’s fragile ruling coalition.

“Begin was the kind of guy who didn’t see any difference between the (Ethiopian Jews) and other Jews,” Chafets said. “He wanted to get them out while previous governments didn’t.”