Cabinet Approved by 61-51 Vote Rabin Pledges Step-by-step Cautious Peace Negotiations

A new Israeli government headed by Premier Yitzhak Rabin was sworn into office today after winning a narrow vote of confidence in the Knesset. The vote was 61-51 with five abstentions out of 120. Three MKS were absent. After the swearing-in cere- monies, the new Cabinet left to pay the traditional courtesy call on President Ephraim Katzir.

In asking the Knesset to approve his new government, the most narrowly based coalition in Israel’s history. Rabin promised to continue along the course set by the outgoing regime of Premier Golda Meir and to effect changes and innovations where needed. He said his new government would pursue a policy of cautions, step-by-step peace negotiations with Israel’s Arab neighbors, strengthen the national security and tackle the myriad social and economic problems on the, home front. His 19 member Cabinet is made up of a coalition of the Labor Alignment, the Independent Liberal Party and the Civil Rights Party which control 61 votes in parliament, a slim 51 percent majority.

With a single exception, Rabin’s Cabinet is the same approved last week by the Labor Party’s leadership bureau and Knesset faction. The only major change was the switch of Yehoshua Rabinowitz from Housing Minister to Minister of Finance replacing Pinhas Sapir who is retiring from the government. Rabinowitz was urged by the Party to take over the reins of Israel’s troubled economy after banker Yaacov Levinson, originally selected is Sapir’s replacement, had second thoughts.

DEFINES VIEW ON PEACE TALKS

Rabin’s presentation to the Knesset today was most notable for its careful definition of Israel’s attitude toward peace talks with its various neighbors. “Only when we are really convinced that Egypt and Syria are intent on full observance of the separation of forces agreements will the chances for continued dialogue toward peace increase.” Rabin said. Since the Mideast situation depends to a large extent on-Egypt, the incoming Premier said, the next stage on the road to peace must be between Israel and Egypt. He drew a distinction, however, between continued talks with Cairo and Damascus.

In negotiations with Egypt, there is room for another intermediate agreement “whereby Egypt will forego maintenance of the state of belligerence,” Rabin said, but with Syria, once a separation of forces is affected, “there is no room for an interim stage.” Rabin said therefore that Syria will have to decide whether or not it is ready to sign a peace treaty with Israel, bearing in mind that “Israel will not return, even within the context of a peace treaty, to the June 4, 1967 lines which are not defensible borders and which constitute a temptation for aggression.”

Rabin said Israel stood ready to negotiate a settlement with Jordan but stressed that his government would adhere strictly to the policy laid down by its predecessor, namely that “Israel rejects the establishment of a further separate state west of the Jordan.” He also reiterated Premier Meir’s vow that Israel would never negotiate with terrorist organizations “whose declared goal is the destruction of the State of Israel.”

Rabin promised that his government would carry out negotiations with Jordan in the manner prescribed by Mrs. Meir. No peace treaty will be concluded with Jordan that involves territorial concessions in the Judaea-Samaria regions (West Bank) without first consulting the electorate through new elections if necessary, Rabin pledged.

In foreign policy generally, Rabin said that Israel would continue to strengthen its international position and establish closer relationships with all nations, but first and foremost with the United States. He noted the special relationship that presently exists with Washington but insisted that it “will not prevent us from standing firm on essential positions even when they don’t match American views.”

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

In order to meet social and economic challenges at home, Rabin said, his government would take the view that the economically stronger groups in the nation will have to bear the main economic burden. He called for government reforms to improve efficiency and urged the younger elements who demand change to demonstrate greater involvement in public life. Referring to Israel’s social crisis since the Yom Kippur War, the Premier-designate criticized those “who exploit the feelings of depression in order to increase confusion and spread weakness and perplexity, who have tried to turn legitimate differences of opinion into a dialogue of the deaf, mutual tolerance into a witch-hunt and public debate into factionalism. Some have forgotten the ancient historic lesson that because of needless hatred, Jerusalem was destroyed,” Rabin declared.

Rabin summed up his government’s policies and goals in six points: Safeguard national security and strengthen the armed forces while striving for a true peace; build a modern, just free and independent society within the framework of a stable democracy; ensure the social welfare of all elements of society through special efforts by the community to improve the condition of those in distress; increase immigration and improve absorption methods in order to attract tens of thousands of settlers from all countries in the diaspora; consolidate and developed the economy; strengthen Israel’s international position and constantly endeavor to forge closer ties with world Jewry “our truest ally.”

Rabin’s Cabinet is not complete. The ministries of religious affairs, interior and social welfare, traditionally held by the National Religious Party remain vacant and in the temporary charge of care-taker ministers. Abraham Offer, originally designated Communications Minister, has been shifted to the Housing Ministry replacing Rabinowitz who will take over the Finance Ministry. The difficulty Rabin had in filling the Treasury post has been attributed to the lack of candidates for a job that is sure to entail unpopular decisions regarding the nation’s inflation-ridden economy.