The national convention of the Israel Labor Party was postponed yesterday from July 20 to Aug. 3, underlining the seriousness with which party leaders regard the threat of a split by members of the Rafi faction whose leader is Defense Minister Moshe Dayan. The postponement was announced by Pinchas Sapir, party secretary-general, who is a Minister Without Portfolio in the coalition Government of Premier Golda Meir. The two-week delay will be used for closed door discussions between Labor Party leaders and members of the Rafi faction to try to iron out their differences. Political observers here said talks would very likely be held between Gen. Dayan and Mrs. Meir. Mrs. Map told a public rally in Haifa that a split in party ranks was “inconceivable” and appealed to patriotic sentiments to avert one. “How could we explain it to our boys, fighting on all fronts, that the party broke up over issues of political philosophy?” the 71-year-old Premier asked.
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