A new Arab Labor Party has been organized and registered as a political association in accordance with legal requirements, it was announced here today. The new party is affiliated with the left-wing Socialist Achdut Avoda and will be “federated” with the Jewish party.
The new Arab unit will hold its first national convention in the middle of the month. One of its prime initiators is Yigal Alon, Achdut leader and one-time head of the Palmach.
The new Arab party will set a precedent in its organizational structure as an independent unit within the Achdut federation. In the past the Communist and Mapam Parties have solicited Arab membership directly into their ranks, while the Mapai has given its support to several independent Arab parties whose heads, usually Arab notables, are elected to the Knesset where they vote the Mapai line.
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