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Dissension Among Laborites in Palestine, Ben-gurion Threatens to Leave Labor Party

October 13, 1942
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A demand that the Mapi, the Jewish Labor Party of Palestine, either be reorganized or dissolved was voiced today by David Ben-Gurion, addressing a conference in Nahalal. He threatened to resign if factional struggles within the party continue.

Pointing out that the Jews of the world must be united for planing postwar activities Ben-Gurion said that the Jewish Labor Party of Palestine is under going a sharp internal crises with various factions within the party fighting each other in connection with certain ideological and practical problems. “The party will either have to be reorganized or dissolved,” he declared, “I do not hesitate to state that I will leave the ranks of the party if the present dissension continues, since it is undermining the morale and the basis of our movement. The reorganization of our party is an urgent necessity. What we have now is not worth main training. It is only a disaster and a shame.”

The statement by Ben-Gurion provoked great interest among the delegates. Sharp replies are expected from representatives of the groups opposing his views. The issues on which the party is split includes the question of the agreement between the Zionists-Revisionists and the executive of the Jewish Agency.

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