Knesset Organization Debated

Squabbling has begun over the organization of the next Knesset, the number of committees and the awarding of committee chairmanships in Israel’s first parliament where the Labor Alignment will sit in opposition. A special Knesset organizing committee is holding hearings on these subjects and today voices were raised in opposition to a Likud proposal to establish a committee for world Jewish affairs.

The objectors said that such a committee would create the impression that Israel was trying to intervene in the internal affairs of communities abroad. There is also a dispute over Likud’s proposal to have II Knesset committees. The Labor Alignment wants nine, as in the previous Knessets, proposes three for Labor and one each for the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC), the National Religious Party (NRP) and the Aguda Israel. The Rakah Communists, who will have five seats in the next Knesset against the Aguda’s four, are demanding equal treatment. They said they would boycott all Knesset committees if they are not given a chairmanship. The Labor Alignment proposed four Likud chairmanships, three for itself and one each for the NRP and DMC. No decisions were reached and the organizing committee will meet again.