As the continuing struggle for Mapai leadership between Frime Minister Levi Eshkol and former Premier David Ben-Gurion appeared to be coming to a head within the ranks of the Mapai party, Mr. Ben-Gurion announced that if the party minority decides not to form a separate list in the forthcoming Knesset elections he would withdraw from all party activity and devote his time to writing books and explaining why the nation should no longer trust Premier Eshkol.
The former Premier issued the warning after former–agriculture Minister Moshe Dayan, a Ben-Gurion supporter, expressed doubts whether the issues separating the two factions–reform of the electoral system and renewal of the Lavon affair–justified splitting up the party. The minority faction convened here today to arrive at a final decision on whether to form a separate list.
Mr. Ben-Gurion, meanwhile, sent a letter to the Mapai secretary today demanding that Premier Eshkol be brought to “trial” before a party tribunal for his statement two weeks ago charging that “during Ben-Gurion’s regime, several things were not in order.”
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