Announcement that David Ben Gurion had succeeded in establishing a new coalition government for Israel was momentarily expected today. The coalition is expected to be composed of the Premier’s Mapai Party, the General Zionists, the Progressives and possibly the Agudath Workers.
Mr. Ben Gurion, who reported to President Chaim Weizmann on the situation yesterday; conferred last night with General Zionist and Poale Agudah representatives. The announcement of the new coalition was said to await final agreement by the party councils.
There appeared to be a possiblity that the Mizrachi Workers might be included in the new coalition if they accept. Mr. Ben Gurion’s terms. The Premier is said to be angered by the “excessive” demands of the religious group for cabinet posts and was expected to make them a “take it or leave it” proposal.
The General Zionists had demanded four key posts in the new Cabinet–Finance, Trade, Supply and Education. Their candidate for the Finance post is Mayor Israel Rokach of Tel Aviv. Dr. Peretz Bernstein, who formerly held the post, is their nominee for the Trade portfolio. Joseph Saphir was proposed for the Supply Ministry and Mrs. Shoshana Persitz for the Education post.
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.
