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"Stay Away from New York." Dulles accepted the French draft as an acceptable alternative to the U.S. resolution, and next day Eban and Israeli Foreign Minister Golda Meir flew to Washington for emergency consultations with Dulles and Pineau. After a 3-hr.-10-min. conversation with Dulles, Eban informed Ben-Gurion that the U.S. now favored the idea of international administration for Gaza too. Eban turned up at a Washington diplomatic party, was asked why he was in Washington instead of in New York at the U.N. Cracked Eban:"The more you stay away from there, the more you solve problems." Optimism filled the air. Mrs. Meir, the onetime Milwaukee schoolteacher, told a Manhattan "Labor-Israel" dinner: "This is a great evening, and [tomorrow] may be a great day. I wish I could tell you more."
In Jerusalem, on receipt of Eban's report, Ben-Gurion sent out motorcycle cops to catch his ministers on the highways and in their village homes, even had a message flashed on a Jerusalem movie screen to summon one minister. When the Cabinet finally assembled, Ben-Gurion an nounced his decision: to evacuate Gaza. "What guarantees have we got?" cried a minister. "None," replied Ben-Gurion. Then he told of the support developing in Washington and New York for an international regime for Gaza. "They have shown their understanding of our problems," he said. "We must show understanding too." The argument raged till 2 a.m., when B-G forced the decisive vote. It was 11 to 4. Knowing that he faced a government crisis and public outcry. B-G imposed the strictest news blackout on the decision.
Next day, in consultation with the U.S.. Golda Meir drew up the statement she would make to the Assembly, then cabled it to Israel for Cabinet approval. Because of the time differential and deciphering delays, the Israeli Cabinet session did not get under way until Friday at 3 p.m. Ministers argued until after the evening star rose—the first time in Israel's stormy history that a .Cabinet had ever extended its deliberations into the Sabbath. The two Religious Front Ministers were gravely troubled about the Sabbath; four holdout ministers were sullen and bitter about B-G's decision. Just as bitter were Moshe Dayan and his army staff when Ben-Gurion called them into his living room afterwards and informed them.
Too Many Assumptions? In New York Golda Meir went to the Assembly tribune before packed galleries to announce Israel's decision: "Full and prompt withdrawal from the Sharm el Sheikh area and the Gaza Strip, in compliance with the resolution of Feb. 2." Israel's action, she explained in matter-of-fact tones, was based on three "assumptions": 1) that freedom of navigation would prevail in the Gulf of Aqaba; 2) that the Gaza Strip would be administered by the UNEF "until there is a peace settlement ... or definite agreement on the future of the Gaza"; 3) that Israel reserved the right under the Article 51 self-defense guarantee of the U.N. Charter to send its ships through the gulf "by armed force" if there should be interference, and to "defend its rights" in the Gaza Strip if raids should start again.