A crisis looms within the Religious Bloc as a result of a difference of opinion as to how the Orthodox parties shall deal with the situation within the coalition Cabinet.
The Religious Bloc deputies in the Israel Parliament met in caucus last night in an attempt to iron out differences among themselves. The Mizrachi is sponsoring a five-point economic program which would include a provision for transfering responsibility for the clothing rationing program from Minister of Supply and Rationing Dr. Dov Joseph to some other member of the Cabinet.
While the Labor Mizrachi and the Agudas Israel generally agree with the Mizrachi economic program they refuse to go along with the latter in threatening to resign from the Cabinet if the program is not adopted by the coalition. At the conclusion of last night’s intra-Religious Bloc session, the Mizrachi decided independently to recall its representative on the Cabinet–Minister for Religions Judah L. Maimon–if the program is not accepted.
Meanwhile, today’s meeting of the Cabinet was further complicated by the fact that the Progressive Party has submitted another economic program, but without any ultimatum attached. This plan calls for the concentration of wide economic power in the hands of one Minister who would be assisted by an “economic cabinet.”
It provides for the appointment of a Minister of Trade and Industry to encourage foreign trade. Also, the plan would increase production by the institution of a system of minimum output and the offering of premiums for production above the norm. The Progressive Party program also calls for a “flexible monetary policy” which would guarantee the stability of the pound.
The Mizrachi party has appointed a special committee to negotiate with other parties, especially the General Zionists, on the possibility of joining a coalition cabinet in the event that the present government is reshuffled. A meeting between representatives of the religious group and the General Zionists took place here today, but no information is yet available on what occurred.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
