Peres: if Labor Wins Elections It Will Honor Likud’s International Agreements but Not Its Policies R

The Labor Party, confident of victory in the elections this spring, has promised to honor all international agreements and obligations entered into by the present Likud-led regime but would not be bound by Likud actions or promises with respect to settlements on the West Bank and economic policy.

Labor Party chairman Shimon Peres made this clear today at a special supplementary session of the party’s convention which was held last December. The session was devoted to discussions of the economic and social programs contained in Labor’s election platform.

Peres said, however, “We will honor all the international undertakings of the Likud government but not everything the Likud has promised and certainly not what it is about to do in advance of the elections will automatically bind us in the future. Certainly not.” He was apparently referring to Likud efforts to accelerate settlements on the West Bank in order to “establish facts” before the nation goes to the polls.

Chaim Herzog, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN and a frequent spokesman for Labor policies, elaborated on Peres’ remarks. “It means that if rash action is taken by the Likud government from now to the elections, in order to create a situation from which it might be difficult to withdraw later, the future government will not be bound by it–amongst other things the (West Bank) settlements,” he said. Herzog, who has been proposed for the portfolio of Information Minister in a Labor government, also said the government would reject economic promises made by Likud to curry favor with the voters.

LIKUD POLICIES OPPOSED BY LABOR

Peres dwelt on economic matters. He enumerated, among the Likud policies opposed by Labor, “the uncontrolled sale of government and public companies, tax rebates for favored interests, protecting inflationary profits, improper land deals, the politization of government institutions and the exemption of religious young women from army services. All of these will be re-examined and necessary changes will be made to improve the country’s social and economic health, “Peres said.

Histadrut Secretary General Yeruham Meshel told the session that if the Likud governments legislates a national health service to replace Histadrut’s Kupat Holim (sick-fund), a new Labor government would overturn it. He said a Labor regime would achieve a “social contract” on wages and prices between government and the labor federation.

Yaacov Levinson, former board chairman of the Bank Hapoalim, who many expect to be Finance Minister in a Labor government, called for a complete price freeze instead of the current slowdown in price increases. He stressed the need to get workers to increase productivity with incomes pegged to efficiency.