Relations are not running smoothly between Herut and the Liberal Party, the two factions that comprise Gahal, Israel’s second largest political grouping. The trouble stems from the Liberals’ refusal to merge with Herut. Liberal leader Joseph Sapir said at the Gahal convention a week ago that the time was “not ripe” for a merger. Menachem Beigin, leader of Herut, denounced that decision today. He told newsmen, “I do not take this resolution as a rejection and I look forward to the day when the Liberals will consider the time ripe.” He said he thought a complete union of the two factions was necessary. Gahal was a member of Premier Golda Meir’s coalition government until last August when it quit the cabinet in protest against Israel’s acceptance of the American peace initiative. Gahal is bitterly opposed to peace talks with the Arabs under the auspices of UN mediator Gunnar V. Jarring.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.