ALS signed “D. Ben Gurion,” one page, lightly lined, 4.5 x 7.5, February 28, 1970. Letter to George P. Viegelmann, Jr., in full: "I share entirely your view that it is vitally necessary for everyone in the Middle East to live in peace. I am expressing a private view: I would be ready to give up a great Part of the areas which we hold since the six day war, if this would bring peace; by peace I mean friendship with our Arab neighbors and cooperation politically, economically and culturally, but perhaps only Russia can bring this about. I even doubt whether the American Gov. can achieve that. In the future there may be a change in Egypt." In fine condition.
At age 84, Ben-Gurion exited from the political arena in 1970 to retire to Sde Boker, a modest home on the kibbutz, and begin writing an 11-volume history of Israel's early years. The concept of peace and the preservation of Israel held even greater importance to Ben-Gurion later in his career. When the Six-Day War erupted on the morning of June 5, 1967, the former prime minister and minister of defense wrote in his journal: 'I believe this is a grave mistake.' When the dust had settled, Israel had earned a decisive and bloody victory over Egypt and its neighboring states, with the capture of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. With the exception of East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and Mount Hebron, Ben-Gurion believed that the captured territories had to be given back as part of a peace agreement. However, any form of treaty would not be signed until the Camp David Accords of 1978.
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