Israeli Prime Minister-designate David Ben Gurion and members of the Mapai Party, the Religious Bloc and the Progressive Zionists who have agreed to serve in his new administration met today to formulate the Cabinet’s program. ,p/>Three places in the 15-man cabinet have been reserved for representatives of Mapam, the left-wing United Workers Party, in the event that party reconsiders a decision it reached early this morning against participation in the government. A similar decision was taken by the General Zionists who have “been allocated one seat in the Cabinet.
Efforts to secure Mapam’s agreement to enter the Cabinet were continuing and sources close to Ben Gurion expressed the belief that Mapan’s assent would be forthcoming in a matter of time. The general council of Mapam, by a vote of 150 to 33, decided against entering the Government on a basis of acceptance of collective responsibility for government policy.
Late last night, the General Zionists also refused a bid to join the government because, they said, Ben Gurion had failed to accept their proposals.
Ben Gurion’s party will hold seven portfolios in the new Cabinet. Three have been assigned to the Religious Bloc, one to the Progressive Zionists, while four have been set aside for the Mapam and the General Zionists. The government, thus constituted, would be a coalition of all the Israeli parties with the exception of the extreme rightist groups and the Communists. The composition of the Cabinet, as agreed upon today, was as follows:
Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, (and possibly Minister of Development)–David Ben Gurion (Mapai.)
Foreign Affairs–Moshe Shertok (Mapai.)
Finance–Eliezer Kaplan (Mapai.)
Posts and Communications–David Remez (Mapai,)
Labor and Insurance–Mrs. Goldie Myerson (Mapai.)
Education–Zalman Rubashov (Mapai.)
Food Distribution and Supply–Dr. Bernard Joseph (Mapai.)
Religion–Dr. Judah L. Fishman (Religious Bloc.)
Interior and Immigration–Moshe Shapira (Religious Bloc.)
Social Welfare–Rabbi I.M. Levin (Religious Bloc.)
Justice–Dr. Felix Rosenblueth (Progressives.)
Reserved for Mapam are the portfolios of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Housing and Public Works and Health. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is being held for the General Zionists.
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