By a vote of 56 to 44, the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, voted today to dissolve itself and for the holding of general elections on August 15 for a new Government to replace the one toppled by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion when he resigned January 31.
A proposal that the elections be held July 11 was voted down on grounds it would occur during the period of mourning between the 17th of Tamuz and Tisha B’Av. The Knesset also defeated a bid for an August I election date.
Mapi and the National Religious party mustered a majority for the August 15 date to move the elections as far as possible from a “certain trial,” on the assumption that the trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann would be over by that time.
Seven of Israel’s parties had sought an earlier election date than August 15 on grounds of economies in money and energy and to reduce the incumbency of the caretaker Government. Speakers for the proposal argued that a government without a mandate could not carry out policy in either domestic or foreign affairs. The parties involved were the General Zionists, Herut, Achdut Avodah, Mapam, the Progressives, the Communists and Agudat Israel.
The current Knesset is the fourth since establishment of the State. It was elected in November 1959 for a four-year period. The Government which fell on January 31 was Israel’s ninth.
Passage of the election bill was preceded by some new efforts to avert elections by negotiating a new Cabinet. Moshe Shapiro, Religious party leader and Minister of the Interior in the present caretaker Government, proposed last night a conference between Mapai, Achdut Avodah, Mapam and his party to discuss a coalition Cabinet under Finance Minister Levi Eshkol as Prime Minister and Mr. Ben-Gurion as Defense Minister.
Mr. Shapiro indicated he understood that Mapai would be willing to agree to such a coalition if Mapam and Achdut Avodah would withdraw their announced rejection of Mr. Ben-Gurion as Prime Minister. However, the two left-wing parties adhered to their refusal to accept any agreement which would make Mr. Eshkol’s Premiership a temporary one and which would provide in advance for Mr. Ben-Gurion’s automatic return to the post of Prime Minister after a few months.
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