‘time’ Report That Mrs. Meir Opposed Eban As Minister Called ‘idle Gossip’

The Prime Minister’s office denied today an allegation published in Time Magazine this week that Premier Golda Meir said she did not want Foreign Minister Abba Eban in her Cabinet. Mrs. Meir’s office said that Time, which published a similar allegation several months ago, had “once again become the victim of idle gossip.” It suggested that the magazine re-check its news sources in Israel.

The Knesset on Tuesday approved by a large majority the appointments of Haim Gvati and Shimon Peres to head the ministries of health and immigrant absorption respectively on a temporary basis. Mr. Gvati is Minister of Agriculture in the new government and Mr. Peres is Minister-Without-Port-folio. The health and absorption portfolios have been earmarked for the Mapam Party, the junior partner in the Labor Alignment. The faction joined the government but has refused so far to enter the coalition because of ideological differences with the right-winger Gahal (Herut Liberal alignment.) Should the Mapam leadership change its mind, Mr. Gvati and Mr. Peres will step down.