A sudden dispute over rules for the election of delegates to the forthcoming ninth national convention of Histadrut erupted in a walk-out of leftist and centrist representatives on the Histadrut Council.
When the majority of Mapai representatives on the Council refused to re-open the election question previously settled in the executive, the Left-wing Socialist Mapam and Achdut Avodah and the Progressive Party workers section walked out of the Council. Subsequent attempts at a compromise failed. Later, in a dispute over another agenda item, the Communist deputation quit the Council.
The Mapai delegates insisted that any further debate at this time would in effect cause a postponement of the May 17 election date for delegates to the all-Israel convention. They offered to re-open the question in the executive, but barred an appeal from that body to the Council. The “dissidents” refused, and the stalemate carried over.
It is anticipated that the delegates who remain, an actual majority of the Council, will continue with the business of the session and pass all proposals, recommendations and resolutions awaiting its action.
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