The Knesset rejected this afternoon a motion of non-confidence proposed by the General Zionist and Herut Parties following disclosure that Pinchas Sapir, the Minister of Trade, had asked Arieh Manor, head of the Israeli purchasing mission in New York, to raise $10,000 for Mapai youth clubs.
Only the two parties which sponsored the motion voted for it, while the deputies of the Mapai, Mapam, Achdut Avodah and Religious Parties voted against it and the Agudas Israel and the Communist members abstained.
Prior to the vote, Premier David Ben Gurion praised Mr. Sapir and expressed full confidence in his honesty and the propriety of his actions. Mr. Sapir, in his own defense, noted that he had marked his letter to Mr. Manor “strictly personal” and had not asked him to raise any money but merely to collect sums already promised Mr. Sapir.
To prevent any future misinterpretation of actions by a member of the government the Ben Gurion administration will offer a bill to Knesset barring government officials from engaging in party activities and fund-raising, except for state purposes. Another measure will ask the appointment of public committees to oversee the administration of the civil service employment program.
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