Agriculture Minister Moshe Dayan today formally notified Prime Minister Levi Eshkol of his intention to resign next Tuesday.
Senior Ministry officials attributed Mr. Dayan’s decision to a series of disputes with Premier Eshkol over a number of demands the Agriculture Minister put forward last June, as a condition for his remaining in the Cabinet. These included the formation of a Council of Ministers for Economic Planning, the establishment of a permanent advisory panel of Mapai members of the Ministerial Security Committee, and the transfer of all authority on food supplies to the Ministry of Agriculture.
While it is understood that some Mapai members are still trying to dissuade Mr. Dayan from resigning, his decision appears to be final. Mr. Dayan reportedly also wanted to resign his Knesset seat, but the Masai faction declined to accept his resignation.
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