Behind the Headlines Rabin Under Fire; Crisis Mounts Within Labor Party, Alignment

The Labor Party leadership had been meeting urgently over the weekend to try to find a successor to Meir Zarmi who announced his resignation Thursday as secretary general of the party. So far, no key Labor personality has shown any interest in taking the post and Zarmi has refused to reconsider.

The latest crisis within Israel’s governing political party coincides with a rising flood of criticism of Premier Yitzhak Rabin from Labor Alignment and opposition forces and from many individuals who were regarded as close supporters of Rabin when he took office two years ago. Pressure is also mounting for the establishment of a national unity government that would embrace Likud.

At the same time, the Labor Alignment itself appears in danger. The Mapam political committee engaged in heated debate over the weekend as to whether it should remain in the Alignment or strike out on its own. The veteran party secretary Meir Talmi continues to favor the alliance with Labor but even he insists on minimum conditions without which, he said, Mapam should prepare to enter a separate list in the next elections.

Chaika Grossman, on the other hand, called for a clean break with Labor and suggested that many Laborites would defect to a Mapam list. The differences between Mapam and Labor run deep and involve such basic issues as an overall peace plan, the Palestinian question and the social and economic gap in Israel.

VIEWED AS RUDDERLESS SHIP

Zarmi said he was resigning because the Labor leadership is allegedly indifferent to the party’s serious financial situation. But many observers believe the real reason is the crumbling of the party’s internal structure, the public differences between party leaders over policy and the leadership’s alleged lack of support for the party’s elected bodies.

The Labor Party is viewed by many Israelis as a rudderless ship on the verge of foundering. This view seems to be borne out by the refusal of many top men to take over Zarmi’s office. Former Foreign Minister Abba Eban flatly rejected the post and refuses even to talk about it. Finance Minister Yehoshua Rabinowitz shunned any suggestion that he become secretary general and insisted that he will remain in the Cabinet as long as he is wanted.

Housing Minister Avraham Ofer swiftly denied rumors that he would consider the secretary generalship if he could retain his government portfolio. Other public figures who have been mentioned–former UN Ambassador Yosef Tekoah Uzzi Baram, head of the Labor Party’s Jerusalem branch; and doveish Labor MK Yossi Sarid–have not responded.

Many observers say the Labor Party has been without true leadership since the death of Pinhas Sapir last year. Sapir, who was Finance Minister in the government of former Premier Golda Meir and later resigned to become chairman of the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency Executives, was the Labor Party’s “strong man” and undisputed “boss” for years. The strength of his personality held together the various divergent factions that make up Labor and those factions are now coming unglued, observers say.

UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL. PERSONAL CRITICISM

Rabin, the titular head of the party, is being faulted for failing to take over the reins of leadership. The Premier, in fact, has come under unprecedented political and personal criticism since his return from the U.S. last month and this has even spilled over on his wife who is alleged in some quarters to be interfering in affairs of state.

Dissatisfaction with Rabin apparently has been smouldering for some time. It surfaced during his visit to Washington when a “senior source” in his entourage criticized Israel’s weapons purchase list as inflated, sloppy and a dishonor to the State The criticism reflected on Defense Minister Shimon Peres, regarded as Rabin’s principal rival. The Premier acknowledged when he returned to Israel that he was the “senior source” and, in effect apologized to Peres. But most observers believe the episode is far from over.

Rabin is being faulted for alleged drift and indecisiveness. Yoel Markus, one of his early supporters, wrote in Haaretz several days ago that “more and more people find it difficult to understand his (Rabin’s) motives and are asking, “is there method to his madness?’ ” Markus titled his article “Rabin–The Last Chapter?” Ha claimed that the Premier now commands only token support from the Labor Alignment and asked, “How long can you hold the man (in office) just because there is no one else?”

Rabin has also been criticized by other former supporters, among them former Communications Minister Aharon Yariv, who said if there is no improvement soon in the Labor Party leadership, “I will either retire from political activity or find a new framework to fight for my opinions.” Prof. Yechezkel Dror of the Hebrew University, a former Rabin supporter, has called for the establishment of a national unity government. Police Minister Shlomo Hillel acknowledged that the Labor Party had to present the public with a good, “national league team.”

GRIST FOR LIKUD MILL

The difficulties faced by Rabin and his party have provided grist for the Likud mill. Gen Aril Sharon, the Yom Kippur War hero who founded Likud as the non-Labor opposition, spoke out sharply against the Rabin government in a radio interview over the weekend. It was his first rubble criticism since Rabin named him a special advisor to the Premier last year despite the objections of many Labor Party leaders.

Sharon said the only way to cure the “fever” that is sapping Israel’s strength is to form a small emergency government before the next elections. He said if this is not done, early elections must be held. Sharon and another Likud leader, Mayor Shlomo Lehat of Tel Aviv, participated in a private meeting here last week with several businessmen and political figures, reportedly to discuss early elections.

Meanwhile, Rabin appears to be getting the message from both the right-wing opposition and the leftists and doves within his own party that there is serious dissatisfaction with his regime. He seems to be trying to appease both sides. Many observers believe Rabin will soon invite Eban. a “dove.” to join his Cabinet. He has also met with former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan who is associated with the hawkish Rafi wing of Labor headed by, Press.