Dayan Challenges “older Generation”; Wants Young Leadership in Israel

General Moshe Dayan, former chief of staff of the Israel Army, last night publicly challenged the “older generation” leadership of the Israel Government and the Jewish Agency, as well as the leadership of Histadrut, the Israel Confederation of Labor which plays a powerful role in the country’s politics.

Broadening his attacks to include also the Mapai Party, principal component of the coalition Government, Gen. Dayan told a public meeting here that the veteran leadership of both the Mapai and Histadrut should give way to younger men. He is a member of the Mapai.

“The young generation,” said the 43-year-old Israeli war hero, “who fought the War of Liberation and the Sinai Campaign, has a better understanding of Israel than those who have been sitting for 20 years on the fifth floor of Histadrut headquarters.” The fifth floor of the labor federation’s headquarters is the site of the offices of the principal leaders and executives.

Gen. Dayan declared that there are too many employees on the public payrolls now. He claimed that 5,000 workers could be pared from the payrolls of the Government, the municipalities and the Jewish Agency, at an annual saving of at least 20,000,000 pounds. The sum of 20,000,000 Israeli pounds is exactly the amount being raised here currently through semi-compulsory public subscription, as a special loan for immigration absorption.

Gen. Dayan also voiced opposition to another policy of some of his own party leaders in Mapai, when he declared himself against a joint election ticket of all the labor parties–Mapai, Achdut Avodah and Mapam. A number of important Mapai leaders are reportedly behind such a unity move, aimed at the general elections to be held in this country in the summer of 1959.