Kibbutzim Movement Calls for the Annexation of the Golan Heights

The United Kibbutz Movement, a merger of the thud, which had been affiliated with Mapai, and the Kibbutz Hameuchad, which had been affiliated with Achdut Ha’avoda, has called for the annexation by Israel of the Golan Heights. The call was contained in a resolution adopted today by a majority of the movement’s council meeting since yesterday at Kibbutz Netzer Sireni. This is the first conference of the united movement.

The proposal for annexing the Golan was made yesterday by the movement’s secretary, Maussa Horif, the former secretary of the Thud Hakibbutzim Vehakvutzot. He urged that the new movement influence the Labor Party to bring in legislation for this purpose.

Another resolution adopted unanimously today stated that the Golan is on integral part of Israel and that Israeli sovereignty in the Golan is a guarantee for security and peace. The council also decided to continue with the development of the Golan in cooperation with the Histodrut’s settlement deportment.

The resolutions are similar to those passed last month by the Labor Party’s political committee. The kibbutzim representatives comprise 13 percent of the delegates to the Labor Party convention which is scheduled to meet next week.

The merger of the thud and Kibbutz Homeuchod was meticulously prepared over several years and is expected to significantly increase the influence of the kibbutz circles in Labor Party forums. The Kibbutz Homeuchod is the bastion of support for Yitzhak Robin and had previously formed the nucleus of support for the late Yigal Allon. The thud, on the other hand, mainly support Shimon Peres, the chairman of the Labor Party. At this time, the United Kibbutz Movement has to some extent become soured by the race between Peres and Rabin for the Labor Party leadership.