"We must also consider the Palestinian problem," she says. "It's a problem because they exist 2,800,000 Palestinians. They declare that they are one entity. It's for them to define, not me. I don't believe in patronizing other groups. They have been living here said that's a fact. The problem is that there are two entities two nations who have claim to this country.
"Even if the Arab states seeming concern for the Palestinians is an excuse what of it?" she asks. "Why should we play their game? There may be many reasons for the Arab war against Israel. But the whole world thinks it's because of the Palestinians. So let's say, o.k., let's solve the problem. At the very least, we'll leave the ball in their court.
"As for the PLO." Aloni continues, "how can we negotiate with them if they can't recognize Israel? Arafat says he wants a democratic secular state in this land. Well, there is a democratic secular state here and its name is Israel. The moment the PLO is ready to put away their guns and recognize that Israel exists, then we can negotiate with them."
* * *
Zerach Warhaftig belongs to Maldal and has served as minister for religious affairs. He is active in the party leadership and has little time for interviews.
A follower of the "Whole Israel Movement," he believes in the extension of Israel to its biblical borders, which include the West Bank. "Historically and religiously," he says, "the Land of Israel is one entity, However." He continues "I might be willing to compromise" on territories for a real peace. And certainly, in the Sinai and Golan Heights, it's more a question of security, the more real peace the Arabs want, the more territories we can return.
"As for the Palestinians," he says. "There is no separate Palestinian nationalism, but only Arab nationalism. Ever since the Jews were expelled from the Land of Israel, there has been no Palestinian entity. Arab nationalism, on the other hand, should be satisfied with 20 states. They don't need another one.
"There is a problem with refugees Warhaftig admits, "but it's a small problem. Israel has absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Arab countries. If the Arab states wanted to, they could absorb their own refugees easily enough."
* * *
Israel knows the status quo cannot continue indefinitely. The Arab states are militarily stronger than they were in 1967 and have learned to use oil politics to isolate Israel from the world community. Israel knows it must rely on the United States for political, economic and military aid. But America is not impervious to Arab oil pressure and the Ford administration is demanding Israeli territorial concessions.
Most Israelis concede that withdrawal from the administered territories is inevitable but few agree on the prerequisite Arab concessions, the extent of withdrawals to bargain. So the arguments continue and the Knessetchamber reverberates with shouts of morals outrage, ideological indignation and occasional insults.
But there is always something uniquely Israeli about the nature of these debates obvious in one heated discussion reported last month in the Israeli press.
The disagreement concerned Naftali Feder a left wing member of the Labor Alignment who had spoken with a PLO delegate who had approached him in a restaurant in Geneva.
A Likud spokesman blasted the Alignment member for his tacit recognition of the PLO, whom terrorist he said, were responsible for murdering members of Kibbutz Shamir.
An Alignment member, referring to the Kibbutz movement's generally leftist ideological stance. "How can you, you tell us about Kibbutz Shamir. All honor to this Kibbutz movement. How do you dare talk like that!"
The Likud member accused the left wing of the Labor Alignment of being subservient to every left wing movement in the world.
The Alignment member shouted that his party had built more kibbutzim in Israel than Likud.
The clamor continued until one member of a religious party remarked. "None of this would have happened if only Feder had gone to eat at a kosher restaurant in Geneva."