Mapam Votes to Remain in Alignment

Mapam ended its three day convention at Kfar Hammaccabiah by voting 483-301 in favor of continuing its alignment with the Labor Party. The delegates also adopted a resolution calling for closer ties between the two factions – meaning a greater input by Mapam in policy decisions – to be defined in a written agreement. It appeared, however, that failure to reach such an agreement would not dissolve the alignment.

The final decision represented a compromise between those elements in Mapam who want to strengthen the link with labor and others who favored looser ties or wanted to keep the alignment alive only until the elections in 1981. The most outspoken opponent of the alignment was Mapam veteran Chaika Grossman who said she was supported by the party’s younger circles.

She conceded that she expressed a minority view but stressed that Mapam must preserve its distinctive ideology which is to the left of the Labor Party. She said that if Mapam went its separate way in the next elections, Labor would have to rely on it to form a coalition rather than on the National Religious Party.

The convention expressed opposition to further Jewish settlements on the West Bank and called for the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s order to evacuate Elon Moreh. It also discussed the problem within Histadrut; The delegates said Aikud is trying to reduce the Histadrut’s scope and influence in the nation’s economic activities.

Meir Talmi, Secretary General of Mapam, announced at the end of the convention that he was leaving his past after seven years. He is expected to be replaced by former Health Minister Victor Stemtov. President Yitzhak Navon attended the opening session of the convention. Also present was a delegation from the Rumanian Communist Party.