Friction Within Israel Government Reported Growing; Danger of Cabinet Split Seen

The Israel Government’s three-and-a-half-year-old coalition between the Mapai Party and the two left-wing Socialist parties–Achdut Avodah and Mapam– seemed today to be in danger of splitting as a number of differences brought schism over economic affairs into the coalition’s Cabinet.

One of the major divergencies of opinion is in regards to next year’s budget. Achdut Avodah demands that more money be allocated toward the country’s development program. Yesterday, the Cabinet voted an additional 15,000,000-pound allocation for development, but Achdut still considers the sum insufficient.

Then there is a spectacular dispute between Finance Minister Levi Eshkol, who is a member of Mapai, and Mordecai Bentov, Minister of Development, who represents Mapam in the Cabinet. That dispute has now reached the heated stage of name-calling. Mr. Bentov had scheduled a trip to the Far East, and contends that Mr. Eshkol has torpedoed that trip.

Further dividing these two Ministers is an argument over who is to finance a newly-projected phosphorous plant. That dispute was argued sharply before two Cabinet sessions yesterday, Mr. Eshkol holding that the plant should be financed by private investors, while Mr. Bentov insists that the Government should finance the project.

ISSUES SHARPLY DEBATED AT CABINET MEETING RUNNING LATE INTO NIGHT

The latest dispute was debated sharply at the second of yesterday’s Cabinet sessions which ran late into the night. There were stormy exchanges between the Finance and the Development Ministers. Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, instead of mediating between the two members of his Cabinet, criticized Mr. Bentov, attacking him for publishing letters dealing with the issue.

There were hints from both sides about requests that the other side resign. Mr. Ben Gurion at one point reportedly told Mr. Bentov that, if he is not satisfied with the relations among the Ministers, he could draw his own logical conclusions–meaning that he could resign. Whereupon, today’s reports stated, Mr. Bentov retorted that the Prime Minister could draw his own conclusion from the disputes–implying that the Premier could resign on behalf of the entire Cabinet, thus precipitating an effort to establish a new Cabinet.

Under Israeli parliamentary law, the Prime Minister cannot dismiss a member of the Cabinet. The only way to rid himself of a Minister is to submit a resignation for the whole Cabinet, then try to form a new Cabinet. In order to get rid of Mr. Bentov, who is supported fully by Mapam, Mr. Ben Gurion would have to try to organize a Cabinet with the help of the Religious Bloc–with whom he is also “on the outs” now.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bentov, announcing the cancellation of his scheduled trip to Japan, the Philippines and Australia, publicly charged Finance Minister Eshkol with full responsibility for damage that may be caused by the cancellation. He issued for publication a letter from Mr. Eshkol to Premier Ben Gurion opposing the visit and Mr. Bentov’s own reply to the Premier explaining the necessity for the trip as well as the decision for cancelling it–both bringing before the public remarks of a personal nature between Cabinet members which until now has been without precedent in the public view.

Mr. Eshkol’s letter to the Premier charges that the Development Minister’s proposed trip was not only unnecessary and useless, but would harm national prestige. Mr. Bentov’s reply charges that Mr. Eshkol, behind Mr. Bentov’s back, exerted pressure on the proposed members of Mr. Bentov’s delegation of industrialists to withdraw their agreement to participate in the mission. He also charged the Finance Minister with having in the past three years made twelve trips abroad, many of which were not useful or necessary.