The “Lavon Affair” originated as a “crude plan to disrupt US–Egyptian relations”. This covert operation, involving Israeli agents who planted bombs at American sites in Egypt, ultimately failed, leading to the arrest of eleven agents. Though Defense Minister Lavon denied responsibility, he was blamed for the debacle. Its immediate consequence was the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sharett, which paved the way for Ben-Gurion’s return to the top post. This period for Israel, which had ceased its pursuit of non-alignment following events like the Doctors’ plot in Moscow and its exclusion from the Bandung Conference, was characterized by shifting international relations and deepening engagement in regional conflicts, such as the Suez Crisis in 1956.
However, the repercussions of the Lavon Affair were far from over. In 1961, the issue resurfaced, prompting a “no-confidence motion” from the Herut party, which led directly to Ben-Gurion’s resignation from his prime ministerial position. Herut, led by Menachem Begin, had emerged as a significant political force, securing 17 seats in the 1961 election alongside the Liberals. Ben-Gurion, a towering figure in Israeli politics, publicly stated that he would only agree to return to office if Lavon was removed from his position as head of Histadrut, Israel’s labor union organization. His demands were met, and the Mapai party, with a slightly reduced share of seats, won the 1961 election, allowing Ben-Gurion to retain the premiership.
Yet, the ghost of the Lavon Affair continued to haunt Ben-Gurion’s leadership. Two years later, in 1963, the issue led to his resignation once more. This time, his attempts to gain his party’s full support on the matter failed, leading to Levi Eshkol becoming the new prime minister. The ongoing political turmoil caused by the affair underscored the significant internal consequences that external covert operations could generate, affecting stability and altering political landscapes, similar in a broader sense to how the Bay of Pigs invasion impacted President Kennedy’s administration and his relationship with his intelligence agencies. The truth, in these instances, held a very sharp edge for those in power.