"Moral Ruins"

Speaking in the Knesset, Labor Party Leader Shimon Peres eloquently described the emotional crisis that the massacre had caused. Excerpts:

At this time, perhaps more than ever before, the Jewish nation stands before its conscience. Not because of what the Gentiles say and not because of what the newspapers write, but because of the growing fear that arises from the depths of our heritage.

We have a sense that underneath the blocks of cement used to cover the bodies of children, women and old men, lie moral ruins. We all confront this abominable act, which the rabbis said is the absolute antithesis of the traditions of Judaism.

But the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister were struck dumb. Their silence thundered as it pained. The fate of Israel, David Ben-Gurion said, is dependent on its strength and its righteousness. Righteousness, not just strength, has to guide our deeds.

In May 1981 Menachem Begin said: We are a Jewish state, with our experiences. We will not agree under any circumstances to any attempt by the Syrians to turn the Christians during the 1980s into the Jews of Europe from the 1940s. I want to believe the Prime Minister, that that was appropriate not only for Jews, not only for Christians, but also for Muslims. Children are children, whether they are Jews, Arabs or Lebanese. The blood of all is holy in our eyes.

The question that stands before the whole nation is the question of Israel facing itself, Israel facing its history, Israel with the truth of its experience. And anyone who tries to gloss over this truth because of a suspicion, 'What will the non-Jews say?' is sinning against Israel, is sinning against the sense by which Israel was founded. Those who try to hush the voices will not help ... What have you wrought, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Defense Minister?

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