Leader of Israel Orthodox Bloc Favors Re-establishment of “old” Coalition Cabinet

Confidence that a basis can be found for the reestablishment of the “old coalition government” in Israel was expressed at a press conference here today by Herman Hollander, one of the leaders of the Religious Bloc, upon his arrival here from Jerusalem.

Mr. Hollander, former Undersecretary of Trade and Commerce in the Israel Government and one of the Mizrachi leaders, played a leading role in the negotiations conducted by the Religious Bloc in Israel throughout the current Cabinet crisis. He was one of the Mizrachi leaders who conferred with Dr. Pinhas Rosen, Israeli Minister of Justice entrusted by President Chaim Weizmann with the formation of a new Cabinet.

“No government for the Jewish state without the constructive forces of the Religious Bloc is thinkable, even as a government without the participation of the Mapai Party under the leadership of David Ben Gurion is practical,” Mr. Hollander, formerly of Brooklyn, stated at the press conference. “In view of the present composition of the Jewish population in Israel, it is impossible for the state to have a government without the Mapai represented. The Religious Bloc is the best partner for Mapai in a coalition government.”

The Mizrachi leader expressed his belief that the “partnership which existed between the Religious Bloc and the Mapai until now “will continue to last for a long time to come, contingent upon the realization of a fundamental understanding which will preclude the repetition of crisis in the future.”

Declaring that he personally preferred to see the “old” coalition government now enlarged to include the General Zionist Party, Mr. Hollander said that this move would broaden the scope of the government from more conservative elements and would thereby lend the coalition further stability which is vitally necessary in the difficult times which confront Israel. If the General Zionists insist on remaining an opposition party as they were before, “a basis can be found for re-establishing the ‘old’ coalition in one form or another, with or without the holding of elections,” he asserted.

Mr. Hollander said that the Cabinet crisis resulted to a great extent from Mr. Ben Gurion’s failure to appreciate the “equitable partnership” between the Religious Bloc and the Mapai. He charged that certain agreements reached with Mapai on economic and religious issues by the Orthodox Bloc “were either completely ignored or else changed unilaterally by lower government officials.”

The Religious Bloc, he stated, was eager to iron out the differences which arose as a result of these unilateral actions before the Parliament opened. “Unfortunately, Mr. Ben Gurion tendered his resignation abruptly, thereby foreclosing any opportunity for achieving agreement,” he reported. He emphasized that the Religious Bloc had as much respect for Mr. Ben Gurion as has the Mapai Party. “This,” he said, “was evidenced by the fact that the Religious Bloc refused to enter a ‘careta##r government’ unless it was headed by Mr. Ben Gurion.”