Israel’s new coalition Government faced its first parliamentary test of confidence today — and won, by a vote of 66 to 28 — when Gahal, the fusion of the Herut and Independent Liberal parties, tried to put through a resolution of non-confidence in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.
The resolution attempted to censure the Government in connection with the recent increases on many commodities and services, and for plans to raise taxes and customs duties. In the balloting, two of the opposition parties, David Ben-Gurion’s Rafi and Agudath Israel, abstained, both explaining that the questions of the changing Israeli economy and higher taxation would be debated when the Government’s new budget comes before the Knesset next week.
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol denied to the Knesset the Gahal charges to the effect that the Government has no constructive solution to the economic situation. He said a stable Government’s prerequisite is the implementation of sound economic policy. He noted that, even during the recent election campaign, which returned him to power in last November’s general balloting, he had not hidden the economic shortcomings. However, he said, there is no panacea for a stable economy and declared that various measures must be taken to hold down the inflationary pressures on Israel’s economy.
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