Levi Eshkol, Israel’s Finance Minister, definitely declined an offer to succeed David Ben Gurion as Premier of Israel, it was reported here today. The report said that Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett is also reluctant to accept the post.
The two Mapai Cabinet members are the only candidates for the Premiership. Should both definitely decline to become Premier, the political committee of the Mapai will then meet and vote by secret ballot as to who shall be chosen to serve as Premier. The candidate chosen will have to accept the decision as a matter of party discipline.
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.