A proposal to try to have the next elections to Israel’s Parliament–scheduled for the summer of 1955–held on a direct-constituency basis, instead of the present proportional representation basis, was adopted here today at a meeting of the Mapai Party’s Central Committee. The vote was 52 to 6, with 17 abstentions.
Mapai’s decision called for an attempt to change the election system before the next national balloting and, if that fails, to make this issue the main plank in the party’s election platform.
Ex-Premier David Ben Gurion proposed the introduction of a regional election system, declaring that, under the present election procedures, party fractions are encouraged. He was supported in his suggestion by Prime Minister Moshe Sharett.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.