Mapam Asks for State Council Debate on Decision to Dissolve Palmach Headquarters

Representatives of the Mapam, the United Workers Party, on the Israeli State Council today demanded a full Council debate on a decision taken by the Army General Staff dissolving the separate headquarters of the Palmach, which served as the striking force in the early days of the formation of the Israeli Army.

The Security Committee of the Council has already approved the general staffs decision. The approval was granted some time ago, but was not generally known because of a two-week censorship blackout which was just lifted. For the time being, Palmach units continue to operate as complete entities in the field.

The State Council has also approved most of the conclusions presented in a report of its elections sub-committee. However, it did not act on same important questions including voting rights for the Cyprus refugees and whether the chairman of the committee which will supervise the elections should be chosen by the State Council, the elections sub-committee or the Israeli High Court. This last point has been the subject of a conflict between the Cabinet and the State Council.

For the first time since the state of Israel was proclaimed, there will be a joint government and Jewish Agency executive meeting in Jerusalem soon to discuss joint problems, such as education, colonization and immigration in Israel, it was learned today. The first item of the joint meeting will be Premier David Ben Gurion’s report regarding the military situation in Palestine. It is also expected that Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok will report about the political situation.

Despite the fact that there is no indication that the joint meeting will discuss Jerusalem’s future status, informed circles attach great importance to the fact that such a meeting will be held in Jerusalem, which may indicate the government’s future policy. It is also understood that the meeting is taking place in Jerusalem on the insistence of Ben Gurion.