Shamir: "I Think It Will Pass"

By Johanna McGeary and Robert Slater

As his government was being buffeted by the Pollard scandal and by other problems, Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir met in his office with TIME Jerusalem Bureau Chief Johanna McGeary and Reporter Robert Slater for a 45-minute interview. Excerpts from their talk:

Q. Is Israel suffering from a crisis in confidence?

A. We are self-confident, and we know that we are on the right track. We have our difficulties, of course. Who has not? But there is no doubt that we are making progress in our economy, in our military strength, in our security. Peace is making progress.

Q. Has the recent spate of scandals affected the country?

A. I don't think so. I think it will pass. Scandals you have everywhere you have the press. They will discover scandals.

Q. Has Israel done all it can to answer concerns about the Pollard case?

A. It's painful, I think, very painful. It has caused us a lot of suffering. And, well, we try to do everything possible, but it's not easy. Now we have these investigating committees, and I hope they will bring some answers, some solutions.

Q. If you had known Pollard was spying for Israel what would you have done?

A. I would have stopped it immediately. It's a pity that I didn't know how to. That's the whole problem. It should have been stopped immediately.

Q. So if someone had told you that this intelligence information you had actually came from an American spy . . .

A. I would have said, "I don't want to see any such intelligence reports." It's not only policy, it's a moral question.

Q. Will Israeli political heads have to roll?

A. This is not important. What I have to think is how to avoid any damage to Israel. I don't think about personalities.

Q. What is required to reinvigorate the peace process?

A. We have to proceed according to the Camp David agreements. This is the most realistic way. In spite of all initiatives and trends, nobody has found a better way to get a solution.

Q. But now most efforts seem aimed at convening an international conference.

A. In my opinion, it will not serve the cause of peace. We believe we can only get peace by talks between the parties. An international conference will make things worse.

Q. Why shouldn't the Soviets participate in such a conference?

A. They have to prove that such a conference will bring peace. I don't think they can prove it.

Q. Will the national unity government survive until November 1988?

A. I think yes. Early elections will be very harmful to our economy, and people will not forgive that.