Ben-Gurion and Tewfi k Toubi Finally Meet (October 28, 1966)

Abstract

THIS PAPER RECORDS A CONVERSATION between David Ben-Gurion and Arab MK (Member of Knesset) Tewfik Toubi, from the Rakach (New Communist) list. The fact that Ben-Gurion rarely met with Israeli Arab public figures makes this a unique record. Like many of Israel's leaders, Ben-Gurion was deeply suspicion of the country's Arab population, especially with regard to their loyalty to the state. Indeed he believed that any dialogue with Arabs was a waste of time, since both sides would tend to remain unconvinced of each other's viewpoint, and become more deeply entrenched in their own positions. Further, he felt that encounters between Jews and Arabs would have supplied the latter with an opportunity to accuse state officials and security forces of repressive activity.2 The Rakach party was established in 1965, on the eve of elections to the Sixth Knesset and as the result of a split within Maki (Israel Communist Party). Although the break-away group consisted mostly of Arabs, there was also a number of Jews, including the party's leader, Meir Wilner. The new party quickly became a meeting ground for Arabs with a distinctly nationalist orientation, as was expressed by its leadership's statements, and the composition and activism of its members and other supporters. On international issues Rakach members obediently toed the official Soviet line, and especially vis-a-vis the Arab-Israel conflict. The party's dominant ideology blamed Israel for the absence of peace in the Middle East.3 At the time of his 1966 meeting with Toubi, Ben-Gurion had been out of government for almost three and half years. He had resigned from office on June 16, 1963 and was succeeded by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. A deep rift had developed between the two men during the years prior to Ben-Gurion's resignation, which eventually forced Ben-Gurion and his