The broadest based Cabinet in the short history of Israel began its duties today following receipt of a vote of confidence from Parliament yesterday. The new government, originally composed of the Mapai, General Zionist and Progressive Parties, was widened yesterday by the entrance of the Mizrachi and Poale Mizarchi Parties.
The return of the Mizrachi parties put an end to the see-saw negotigations between the Mapai and the religious groups which were begun in Septemeber when the Agudah parties walked out of the government over the issue of religious schools and national mobilization of Orthodox women. With the entrance of the Mixvachi prates into the government, the opposition now consists of the Herut, Mapam, Communists and the Agudah parties.
Breaking in on a debate in Parliament to reveal the further broadening of the coalition, Premier David Ben Gurion announced that Poale Mizrachi leaders Dr. Joseph Burg and Moshe Shapiro would be named Minister of Posts, Telegraph and Telephones and Minister of Religion and Welfare, respectively.
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