Historical commentary on Israeli leaders and leadership philosophy

seized it." Ben Gurion did not speak of the horrors of the War of Independence, the doubts, the risks. many assumed we would fail. He talked about the opportunity and recognizing it. And the deed. ¢ Like Ben Gurion at the time, Menachem Begin — with Egypt, and Rabin — in the peace treaty with Jordan, and later Peres — with the first steps towards the Palestinians, took huge national, diplomatic, security and political risks. Some paid a heavy price. Yitzhak paid the ultimate price. But they all dared — and acted. This 1s the true test of leadership. This is also the real test of creative statesmanship. ¢ Formative leadership had always been rooted in a rare combination and fine balance between HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029395