Gurion Announces Cabinet’s Resignation; Confers with Weizmann; Knesset Meets Today

President Chaim Weizmann of Israel late today ##d David Ben Gurion–who earlier had announced that the Israel Cabinet has re##ned–to form a new Cabinet and remain in office in the interim. The appeal to ## Ben Gurion was delivered on the basis that he is the leader of the largest party ### the Jewish state.Political observers here doubt, however, that a new Cabinet can be formed at ##st until the Knesset convenes here tomorrow afternoon. Mr. Ben Gurion, who pro##ded to Rehovot, official residence of the President, shortly after announcing that ## Cabinet had resigned owing to rejection by religious groups of his proposals for ##nges in the government, returned here later from Rehovot. He welcomed Henry ##rgenthau Jr. and presented him with a plaque in appreciation of his outstanding ##rvices to Israel.Religious Bloc leaders, including Immigration Minister Moshe Shapira, in a ##atement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency this afternoon, said that they withdrew ##om the government not only because of economic reasons, but also because their re##gious demands were rejected. The religious leaders also emphasized that the issue ## religious education in the immigrant reception camps has worsened.It was reported here that following Mr. Ben Gurion’s announcement of the Cabinet’s resignation, President Weizmann met at Rehovot with leaders of all political groups in parliament. Earlier, it was announced that the decision by the Mizrachi to withdraw from the present coalition government was decided on Friday by a special ##ven-member committee elected by the Mizrachi executive.An official announcement issued here late tonight said that Mr. Ben Gurion ##nded President Weizmann a letter announcing the Cabinet’s resignation, that he con##orred with the Israel President for an hour explaining the reasons for the Cabinet’s ##ction, and that Dr. Weizmann called a meeting of all party leaders. Following this ##eeting, the communique added, the President asked Mr. Ben Gurion to form a new Cabinet, for presentation to the Knesset.Late tonight it was reported that top Mapai leaders have begun an urgent meeting in the Knesset building to discuss the critical situation.