Gahal Quits Cabinet; Beigin Charges U.S. Plan Makes Israel Another Czechoslovakia

Premier Golda Meir’s broad-based national unity government came to a dramatic end early this morning when the Gahal faction voted 117-112 to quit the cabinet after a stormy nine-and-a-half-hour meeting that at one point almost erupted into violence. Later this morning the six Gahal ministers officially informed Mrs. Meir of their resignations and took formal leave of their cabinet colleagues. Under Israeli law they have 48 hours in which to withdraw their resignations, but such a development appeared highly unlikely. The issue that brought down the coalition, formed 38 months ago on the eve of the Six-Day War, was the government’s decision to accept the United States proposals for a peace settlement in the Middle East, a move bitterly opposed by Gahal. The narrow margin of the vote was indicative of the deep split between Gahal’s two factions, the Herut and Liberal Parties. The latter was prepared to remain in the government despite its opposition to the American plan. But the views of Herut and its militant nationalist leader, Menachem Beigin. prevailed. The results of the secret ballot were announced at 2:40 a.m. local time. The balloting climaxed a session that began late yesterday afternoon when the executive committees of both Gahal factions gathered at the Tel Aviv Lottery Hall.

Although Gahal is Israel’s second largest political party its defection from the government still leaves Mrs. Meir’s coalition with a comfortable margin of 72 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Mrs. Meir has said on several occasions that she was prepared to sacrifice the coalition whenever a peace settlement with the Arabs appeared imminent and when it called for decisions which would not support a united front. The Gahal faction accepted the 90-day cease-fire, a key element of the U.S. plan. But it balked at the clause in which Israel was to withdraw from Arab territories occupied in the June, 1967 war. That clause is contained in the UN Security Council’s Resolution 242 of Nov. 22, 1967, which is the basis of the U.S. proposals. According to Mr. Beigin. however, the American plan is a “disaster” for Israel. He charged at last night’s meeting that the plan was drafted by the U.S. in consultation with Moscow and Cairo but not with Israel. “Another Munich,” he cried. “They threatened (President Eduard) Benes (of Czechoslovakia) with the destruction of Prague. Now they threaten us with the destruction not only of Tel Aviv but of Israel.” One Liberal leader. Dr. Israel Feldman. Mayor of Ramat Gan, shouted at Mr. Beigin, “Don’t be a prophet of doom. Give us hopes.” Angry Beigin supporters had to be restrained from assaulting him. Mr. Beigin promised, “In opposition we shall serve the nation as best we can and we shall support the government on security problems.”