Allegations that the Israel Government is “neglecting” the country’s security were denied this weekend by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. At a question-and-answer session held in Kibbutz Degania Friday night by Alignment members in the Jordan Valley, the Premier said that, despite recent armament shipments to various Arab states, the Arabs have not succeeded in upsetting the balance of power in the Middle East. “America will supply us with arms, ” he said flatly.
Among the issues arising at the session was the possible reinstatement to the Mapai Party’s inner circles of Pinhas Lavon. The Lavon Affair, resulting from his ouster from the posts of Defense Minister and of Histadrut secretary-general, due to charges related to an Israeli “security mishap” in 1954, was one of the chief issues on which former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion split with Mapai. Mr. Eshkol agreed with questioners who insisted that it was time that Mr. Lavon be reinstated to recognition inside Mapai. Mr. Lavon, asked about the issue here today, said he and his supporters will “meet soon to discuss whether we should return to Mapai. “
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