The Cabinet decided at its weekly session yesterday that the principle of coalition discipline would not apply to the issues involving the sale of arms to West Germany or to the question of maintenance of military government in Arab areas of Israel. The principle of coalition discipline, formulated by the Cabinet two weeks ago, provides for the automatic resignation of any Cabinet member who votes in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, against any Government decision or who abstains from supporting a Government measure.
Other issues on which Cabinet members will be allowed freedom to vote, provided the questions do not involve a vote of confidence in the Government, are: religious matters of conscience; a general election law or proposals for reform of the election system; elections by the Knesset for President of the State, State Controller or nominations committees for judges of civil or religious courts.
Cabinet members also expressed general approval of a four-year plan for the development of Arab villages. The plan, which was presented by Agriculture Minister Moshe Dayan, would cost 30,000,000 pounds ($16,800,000) and is intended to raise the income of Israel’s Arab farmers. The project, which would be administered by the Ministry of Agriculture with other ministries cooperating, provides for the construction of roads, electric and water installations and school buildings. The Cabinet at its next session is expected to appoint an interministerial committee to expedite the project.
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