Threats by members of the Religious Bloc to resign from the Cabinet over the failure of the Israel Government to enforce various religious edicts in the immigrant camps were today discounted by spokesman for various political parties here.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has appointed an investigating committee to probe the charges made by the religious parties last week. Pending a report by this body, in about two weeks, no further development in the “Cabinet crisis” is expected.
The left-wing Mapam accused the Religious Bloc leaders of “blackmail” in reference to the charges, while a Labor Party spokesman refused to comment beyond: “Everything will be smoothed out.” The centrist General Zionist Party believes that the matter will be cleared up by the governments giving in to the Religious Bloc.
(Benjamin Mintz, chairman of the parliamentary committee for internal affairs in Israel who is now on a visit to this country, today announced that he has sent a cable to Premier David Ben Gurion asking him to intervens against reported violations of religious ethics in the immigration camps in Israel. The cable was sent following a request made to Mr. Mintz over the overseas telephone by the faction of the Agudah Laborite members of the Knesset.)
A special urgent session of the executive of the General Zionist party was held today to discuss Premier Ben Gurion’s offer as a basis for their rejoining the Cabinet. The body decided that the offer was acceptable on condition that the government introduces changes in its makeup and its economic policy.
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