New trouble flared in the government coalition last night as a result of a bitter exchange between Interior Minister Israel Rokach and Minister without portfolio Pinhas Lavon over the latter’s charges that the Interior Minister was mismanaging relations with the municipalities.
The Israeli press gave the dispute wide coverage this morning, but both Mapai and General Zionist spokesmen today discounted the likelihood of a Cabinet breech. Health Minister Joseph Serlin, a General Zionist, called on Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett this morning for a discussion aimed at ironing out the difficulties. It is hoped that at tomorrow’s extraordinary session of the Cabinet the matter will be settled.
At a regional meeting of representatives of municipalities which was held in Tel Aviv two weeks ago, Mapai mayors and councillors voiced a number of grievances and urged Mr. Lavon to raise the question with the General Zionist Minister of Interior. This Mr. Lavon did last night. Mr. Rokach, who defended his policies, in turn attacked the Mapai for not carrying out on the municipal level the coalition agreement which is in effect in the national government.
The press reported that Mr. Rokach also threatened to resign if his policy is overruled. It is understood that no single General Zionist Minister may resign without the other representatives of his party also walking out of the government.
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