Growing Optimism That Dmc Will Join Government Coalition

There is growing optimism in the Begin government that the Democratic Movement for Change will join the coalition, giving it 78 votes in the Knesset. Likud and the DMC have scheduled a meeting for tomorrow prior to a meeting of the DMC Secretariat. The reason for the renewed optimism is partly based on the DMC’s poor showing in the Histadrut elections last week when it won only 8.2 percent of the vote. The DMC had hoped to have enough votes to play a pivotal part in the labor federation but instead the Labor Alignment maintained its control over the Histadrut.

In addition, the DMC which broke off talks with Likud prior to Premier Menachem Begin’s formal presentation of the Cabinet, now sees some modifications in Likud’s views. Begin’s statement to the Knesset that his government was ready to meet the Arab countries at the Geneva conference based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 was seen as a change from Likud’s previously-held rigid attitude.

Begin met privately with DMC leader Prof. Yigael Yadin last Thursday. the Premier then met with the Likud leadership at his home Friday night to discuss the DMC and it was decided that Yadin’s group would have a free hand to vote on religious issues. The DMC could also appeal any government decision establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank by taking it to the ministerial committee on settlements and the Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security.

Begin had announced earlier that three Cabinet posts are being held open for the DMC — Welfare, Justice and Transportation and Communications, in addition to the Deputy Premiership.