Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion does not intend to attend the United Nations General Assembly, which convenes September 20, the spokesman for the Premier’s office here declared today.
The decision on whether Mr. Ben-Gurion would go to the UN Assembly this year has been on an “on and off” basis the last few days. Earlier, it had been announced that Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mrs. Golda Meir, would attend the Assembly for a period, heading Israel’s delegation this year as she has on previous years. When word was received from various capitals that heads of State or Government would go to the UN this year, there seemed a likelihood that Mr. Ben-Gurion would change his mind and go to the UN if leaders of important Afro-Asian states would be there.
Today, however, it was decided definitely that Mr.Ben-Gurlon would stay home, and leave leadership of the delegation to Mrs, Meir. Among Afro-Asian leaders reportedly planning to go to the UN this year are India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Ghana’s President Kwame Nkrumah and Indonesia’s President Sukarno.
Mr. Ben-Gurion is on a two-week vacation now. However, from his vacation place, he is conducting the affairs of the Prime Minister’s office and the work of the Defense Ministry, which he also heads. He is also expected to attend the Cabinet meeting, next Sunday, when government instructions are to be framed for this year’s delegation to the General Assembly.
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