Several policemen and a number of workers were injured here this afternoon in a clash which developed from a demonstration by Communist-inspired workers in protest against the decision by the Histadrut, the Israel Labor Federation, not to demand immediate cost-of-living allowance increases.
While Mapai, the dominant Government party, was successful in nearly all parts of the country in persuading workers not to participate in the half-day protest strike, leftist Mapam and Communist agitators succeeded in organizing a work stoppage in the Tel Aviv area, where demonstrators blocked the main highway.
Demonstrators began stoning policemen when the latter proceeded to clear the road for traffic. Police finally had to use batons to disperse the angry crowd. In other places, strike efforts passed quietly. Communist leaders made enormous efforts everywhere to carry out the strike in force, but it was only in the Tel Aviv area that they met with any success.
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