Charges and denials that the Israeli pound might be devalued were voiced today at meetings in the Israeli election campaign.
Members of the Herut and Liberal parties raised the possibility of currency devaluation and warned listeners’ about other “mistakes of Mapai in economic fields.” But Pinhas Sapir, the Mapai Minister for Trade and Commerce, declared at a large Mapai meeting that the Government had not discussed the possibility.
The Mapai Minister said he personally was opposed to devaluation on grounds it would not solve Israel’s economic problems. He cautioned the public against becoming panicky and hoarding unnecessary commodities.
Another issue raised by Herut involved the pardon and release from prison of an Arab sheikh’s son, EI Huzeil, who had been Jailed on charges of complicity in arms smuggling. He was pardoned two weeks ago, and his release was celebrated at a gathering of Bedouins and representatives of the military governorship.
A Herut speaker charged that the pardon was given solely to win Bedouin votes and demanded that a special committee investigate the pardon.
In general, election speeches today were delivered on an already established pattern of Achdut Avodah against Mapai, Mapam against Mapai and the Liberal party, Herut against Mapai and the Liberal party and Mapai sticking to its program of stressing Israeli achievements under leadership of the Mapai.
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