Jewish Section of Israeli Communist Party Dissolves; Urges Members to Join Mapam

The Jewish section of the Communist Party of Israel, which is represented in the Knesset by deputy Eliezer Preminger, decided at an extraordinary week-end conference held here to dissolve itself. The group also recommended that its former members join the Mapam Party. It is expected that the Communist Party of this country will now include individual Jewish members.

In a statement issued prior to its dissolution, the Jewish section explained that the Israeli Communist Party–known by its Hebrew abbreviation of “Maki”–did not succeed, even after the state of Israel was proclaimed, in attaining all of its political and ideological objectives. The statement added that the party persists in a “distorted, anti-national course” which prejudices Communism. The dissolved group also criticized the Maki for its “failure to understand the particular nature of the Jewish national problem” and for its “aloofness from the masses.”

Mapam members attending a rally staged here last night heard party leaders sharply criticize Premier David Ben Gurion’s recent “distortion of Haganah history.” (Bitter debates broke out in the Knesset last week following Mr. Ben Gurion’s review of the role of the Haganah in the recent fighting. Both Mapam and Herut deputies were greatly displeased by his presentation.)

Former Deputy Defense Minister Israel Galilee told the rally that as a result of “Ben Gurion’s new attitude” new steps leading to the suppression of the left-wing parties in Israel could be anticipated. Dr. Moshe Sneh insisted that the only way to “counter the Premier’s stand was to constitute a new force which would modify the ruling power in the country.” Other speakers who sharply criticized the Israeli Premier included Itzhak Riftin, Mapam deputy in the Knesset.