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There was no reaction to that emotional charge in Jerusalem. The Israelis were worried about Premier Menachem Begin's health and embroiled in a domestic debate about how the government should respond to Washington's request for more details on Israel's plan for autonomy for the occupied West Bank. His doctors say that Begin, who was resting at home last week, suffers from diabetes and heart trouble, but rumors persist that his health is worse than has been acknowledged. He both looks and acts ill. During a Cabinet meeting recently, Begin's head dropped, and he blacked out. His aides rushed him from the room, and he was gone for 45 minutes before he could resume his place.
The long awaited Cabinet debate on Washington's questions about the West Bank was expected to be the toughest challenge to his leadership that Begin has faced. It hinged on Washington's request for Israel's position on whether after a five-year transition period it would be prepared to negotiate a final settlement for the area. Begin was opposing two camps led by Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan, both of whom favor a firm commitment. Instead, the Premier was said to support a proposal by Chaim Landau, Minister Without Portfolio and an old friend, that Israel promise only to "reconsider" the situation.
After consulting key Cabinet members, Begin at week's end was reported to have arrived at a compromise that would be backed by the Cabinet and stave off major resignations for the moment. But Begin's reluctance to commit himself to yielding Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank was increasingly viewed as untenable and unrealistic, even by members of his Cabinet. The bitter mood building against the Premier was underscored last week by a member of the Knesset from Begin's Likud coalition. "Labor managed to wreck Israel in 29 years of government," he said. "We [the Likud] managed to do it in only one.''