Levi Eshkol - Prime Minister


By Shimon Peres

Former Prime Minister




Levi Eshkol succeeded David Ben Gurion and served as Prime Minister from 1963 to 1969. From 1963 to 1967 he was both Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. In addition of being one of the founders of the first Kibbutsim (Degania), he was considered a leader of Israeli agriculture, particularly its irrigation systems, and a builder of Israel's economy.
His greater challenge was the Six Day War, conducted under his premiership that brought Israel to its greatest military victory of three countries - Egypt, Jordan and Syria, thus putting the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights under Israeli control. The Eshkol government united Jerusalem and finalized its borders as the Capital of Israel.
The Eshkol government suggested to trade land for peace in all three fronts, but without a response from the Arab side.
His achievements reflected his personality. He was determined, but not obstinate. Flexible, but not submissive. Serious in action, but folkloristic in speech. He did not demonstrate everything that he knew. He kept back reserve of knowledge and expertise in readiness for emergencies.He understood the art of compromise, of give and take, avoiding resentment and schism. He knew that without compromise life is impossible: "Everybody is in love with his own compromise"... He loved to be in the center, but he was never jealous of the success or centrality of others. Rising stars did not worry him. He saw them as signs of life enrichment.
Eshkol's landscape was basic: the sea and the land, the valley and the hill, and the creative experience of man turning a naked dream-picture into a concrete reality, in which people walk about, flourish and continue to dream. Eshkol was drawn to such landscapes and he harnessed them to his artistic talent, which was both lyrical and prosaic.
His Zionism was Agricultural Zionism. Furrows in the soil meant as much to him as did the charms of philosophy, and his personality was as purposeful as of life itself. His faith was steadfast - without moods and changes. His faith, his sobriety, his optimism, combined with a unique sense of humor, enabled him to draw together people of different temperaments and conflicting energies, and direct them toward creative activities. A good thinker, he was also a high flier, a central figure amongst the most daring and illustrious visionaries of his people.
He contributed greatly to the strengthening of Israel's defense capacity. He knew that in the question of defense it is vital to first recognize the danger and only then to consider the price; to look to the demands of tomorrow, not to the achievements of yesterday. He was not worried by the strength of our enemies. He feared our own weakness. He exemplified how to overcome them.

Eshkol's humor -


…would he have had the opportunity to read this book, Eshkol would have probably said:: "Did I say such clever things?"
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"In the first several weeks after I was appointed to the Prime Ministry, when the Prime Minister's arrival was announced during receptions or during other public events, I used to look around and find who was coming."

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." In response to a reporter's question about the Israeli-French relations, Eshkol said: "The relations are so stable, that they do not require a monthly check-up."