Reclusive Menachem Begin Marks 75th Birthday

Former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who led Israel to peace with Egypt nearly 10 years ago, celebrated his 75th birthday Friday, receiving a visit from Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and a symbolic gift of 75 trees from Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek.

The reclusive Begin, who has avoided the public eye since he resigned abruptly as prime minister Sept. 15, 1983, over Israel’s invasion of Lebanon 15 months earlier, observed his birthday according to the Hebrew calendar--the 15th day of the month of Av.

Shamir visited Begin at his home. Shamir later told Israel Radio that they discussed the November elections and politics of the Likud Bloc, the right-wing coalition that brought both to power.

Shamir said they discussed reported remarks by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, a member of the centrist Labor Party, who told Israeli newspapers there was little chance for Middle East peace if Likud won in November.

“We remembered that in 1977, Peres also said that if Begin won . . . there would be no peace,” Shamir said. “He was the one who did indeed bring peace.”

Five months after he came to power in June, 1977, Begin welcomed Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem, a bold move that led the way to peace between their two countries. Sadat’s visit led to the Camp David accords in 1978 and a peace treaty in 1979.

Begin and Sadat shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize.

Kollek said the city had decided to plant 75 trees in Jerusalem Forest, near Begin’s home, “as a symbol of recognition for your achievements.”

Begin was born in Poland on Aug. 13, 1913, under the Gregorian calendar followed by most nations. Because of the difference between it and the lunar calendar observed by Israel, Begin’s Hebrew birthday falls on a different date each year.