Menachem Begin strongly opposes any territorial compromise…
June 1977 CE
Menachem Begin strongly opposes any territorial compromise on the West Bank, which, like many Israelis, he feels to be an inalienable part of Israel—the historic Samaria and Judaea.
He also argues that Resolution 242 does not require withdrawal from this area.
The new Israeli leader puts off a crisis with Washington by discarding Rabin's notion of "coordination" and declares simply that Israel wants to sit down with its neighbors to negotiate peace.
Meanwhile, Begin inaugurates a policy to strengthen Israel's hold on the West Bank through an extensive settlement program overseen by retired general Ariel Sharon, appointed minister of agriculture in charge of settlements.