Mapam, which has been spearheading the opposition to the government’s plan to relocate Gaza Strip Bedouins so as to establish Jewish settlements, is now expected to lay low on the issue. The older leaders of Mapam–Knesset members Meir Yaari and Yaacov Hazan–met with Premier Golda Meir over the recent Mapam protests–led by youthful kibbutzniks of the left-wing party–against the settlement projects.
Mrs. Meir was understood to have made it clear that while she wants to keep Mapam in the Labor Alignment, she cannot approve Mapam actions contrary to government policy. Hazan took a more liberal view than Yaari toward the question of security settlements in the Strip and in northern Sinai, but both opposed evacuation of Bedouins for that purpose. The atmosphere of the meeting Thursday night was not very amicable, although it ended warmly with Mrs. Meir expressing hope that Mapam would align itself with her policy when the issue comes up tomorrow in the Knesset.
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