Cabinet Approves Avineri to Post

The Cabinet yester- day approved the appointment of Hebrew University Prof. Shlomo Avineri as the new director general of the Foreign Ministry. Avineri said afterwards that he would resign his post as dean of the university’s political science faculty on April 1 and begin his duties at the Foreign Ministry then.

Avineri’s appointment by Foreign Minister Yigal Allon aroused controversy in government and political circles because of the professor’s outspokenly “doveish” views and his position that Israel should state its willingness to negotiate with any Palestinian group that recognizes the Jewish State, including the PLO. The Cabinet endorsed Allon’s choice for the sensitive post after a two-hour debate during which several ministers expressed serious reservations.

Social Welfare Minister Zevulun Hammer of the National Religious Party urged that the vote on Avineri be postponed for one week. He was supported by Defense Minister Shimon Peres, Police Minister Shlomo Hillel and Transport Minister Gad Yaacobi of the Labor Alignment and Interior Minister Joseph Burg of the NRP. They were overruled by the majority, however, and when the vote was taken, only Hammer cast a negative ballot. Peres, Yaacobi and Burg abstained.

In a radio interview following his confirmation Avineri said he decided to accept the Foreign Ministry post because he believed that he, like others, should serve the country in the difficult times ahead. He said that had he rejected the offer, he would not have been able to continue to preach his principles. Times are difficult and everyone should contribute what he can, Avineri said. He stated that he visualized his new responsibilities as assisting the Foreign Ministry to crystalize its work and to help the Foreign Minister reach decisions and implement them.