New Knesset Holds First Session; Re-elects Sprinzak As Speaker

The members of the third Israel Parliament were sworn in today by President Itzhak Ben Zvi while cheering crowds surrounded the building. Shortly afterwards, Joseph Sprinzak was re-elected Speaker of the Knesset. He was the only man nominated and received a unanimous vote, with only the Communist deputies abstaining. After the election of Mr. Sprinzak, Premier, Moshe Sharett informed the Knesset that his government was resigning.

The House also named eight Deputy Speakers, each representing a different major party. Then the session adjourned to be recalled either tomorrow or Wednesday. The decision on the timing of the next meeting was left to a temporary “arrangements committee.”

Tomorrow, President Ben Zvi will begin his consultations with the representatives of various parties, looking toward the formation of a new Cabinet. First he will consult with Mapai Party leaders and, later in the day, with members of the religious parties. It is expected that this series of consultations will consume two days.

Since it is clear, however, that the President will first ask David Ben Gurion, Mapai leader, to form a government, Mr. Ben Gurion will actually begin his negotiations with various party leaders while the President is still going through the formalities. Observers here believe that Mr. Ben Gurion faces a difficult task in forming a new coalition–a job which may take him from four to six weeks.

The President arrived at the Knesset promptly at 4 P.M. accompanied by the Chief of Protocol and his military and civilian aides. Outside a happy crowd cheered as he passed into the building between military and police guard units who presented arms. Inside, the deputies rose to their feet as the cheering and playing of bands announced that the President was approaching the chamber.

In a brief speech, the President took leave of the members of the old Knesset, in which he had served before his election to the Presidency. He spoke of Israel as the “sole island of stable democracy in the turbulent sea of the Middle East.” He referred to the recent Geneva conference of the Big Four as a “rapprochement not witnessed since the Second World War” and predicted it would bring peace “to the world and to us.” His best wish for the new Parliament was the hope that it would speedily name a stable government. Then, as the clerk of the House read off their names, he swore in each deputy.