Finance Minister Levi Eshkol, who has been negotiating on behalf of Mapai for the formation of a new Government coalition, told President Izhak Ben-Zvi today that he hoped to be able “within a few days” to give a final and positive reply regarding his prospects of forming a coalition.
Yesterday, the Mapai negotiating committee, at a meeting attended by Premier David Ben-Gurion, reached the conclusion that there were no prospects for the formation of a “broad” coalition, composed of the parties who are participating in the outgoing Cabinet.
While it was still too early to ascertain what “small coalition” could be formed, there was a clear inclination for the formation of a Cabinet comprising Mapai, the Liberals, the National Religious Party, and Poalei Agudat Israel. It is generally agreed here that the Club of Four–consisting of the Liberals, the National Religious Party, Mapam and Achdut Avodah–has disintegrated. Yosef Tamir, secretary-general of the Liberal party, said today that “the moment part of the group refused to negotiate with Herut, it was unable to form a government without Mapai and thus lost all bargaining power.”
Mr. Eshkol was scheduled to meet again tonight with the Club of Four, following which he will report to President Ben-Zvi. Liberal party sources told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that their readiness to join a coalition will depend on whether Mapai will be willing to accept a number of major points in the Liberal platform as well as to give the Liberals one of the three major portfolios–either the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
