A Labor Party delegation called on President Ephraim Katzir today to ask him officially to assign the task of forming a new government to the party’s new leader, Yitzhak Rabin. This was only a formality, however. As leader of the party with the most Knesset seats–54–Rabin is the logical first choice for the job of Cabinet-building.
Of more far-reaching importance to Israelis was the fact that his election, and the close race made by his sole opponent, Shimon Peres, has placed the reins of government in the hands of a new generation of national leaders for the first time in Israel’s 26 years of independence.
Peres is widely regarded as the real winner in last night’s Central Committee balloting. He lost to Rabin by 298-254, a margin of only eight percent of the votes cast. But his strong showing elevated him from the position of No. 2 man in the small Rafi faction hitherto dominated by Moshe Dayan to No. 2 man in what is still Israel’s most powerful political party. The loser was the old Mapai faction of the Labor Party which, with the refusal of Pinhas Sapir to be a candidate, was unable to find a potential successor to Premier Golda Meir within its own ranks.
The Labor Party’s leadership, and probably that of the nation, is now in the bands of the two smaller Labor factions, Achdut Avoda which nurtured Rabin and Peres’ Rafi. Some observers suggested that this development heralds an end to blocs within the party and new political unity in its ranks.
KATZIR TO SUMMON RABIN ON FRIDAY
While Peres can justifiably credit himself rather than the party machine for his impressive showing, the question being asked today was whether it was Peres the individual or the political line he represents that commanded such strong support within the party. His political stance is more hawkish than that of Rabin on territorial concessions and peace terms with the Arabs, areas in which Israel must soon make fateful decisions. The months ahead will tell whether Rabin and Peres can form a smooth-working team despite their different outlooks. The consensus at this time is that both men are sufficiently pragmatic to be flexible. But only time will tell.
The Labor delegation that visited President Katzir today was headed by the party’s Knesset Whip, Moshe Bar’Am. It consisted of secretary general Aharon Yadlin and MKs Yisrael Kargman (Mapai); Shoshana Arbeli Almuzlino (Achdut Avoda); Matilda Gez (Rafi); and Dov Zakin (Mapam). The delegation represented a unified Labor Alignment, Yadlin told reporters afterwards. Bar’Am said the guidelines of the outgoing care-taker government could serve as the basis for a new government.
The President’s office announced late today that President Katzir would summon Rabin this Friday to assign him the task of forming a new government.
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