Religious Party Unable to Agree on Joining New Ben Gurion Government

The central committee of the National Religious Party failed today to resolve differences of opinion that have split it almost exactly down the middle on the question of entering a new coalition government for Israel headed by David Ben-Gurion.

A meeting this morning of several hours duration failed to bridge the gulf between the party leaders advocating entry into a new, small coalition, and the youth and agricultural sections of the party. The latter insisted that a small coalition under Ben-Gurion would be short-lived and result in a serious loss of popular support for the party.

A new resolution, introduced by these elements, was to be discussed at a continued meeting of the committee. This resolution proposed that the party come out for the broadest possible coalition including the General Zionists and the Aguda Israel, if they would enter it; under any Mapai personality other than Ben-Gurion as Premier. Failing that, the resolution would have the-party call for reconstitution of the old coalition under a Mapai premier, but not Ben-Gurion. The resolution expressed readiness to collaborate with Mapai but not with Ben-Gurion.

Advocates within the party of a Ben-Gurion-led small-coalition pinned their hopes of success today on getting through the committee a vaguely-worded resolution naming a committee to explore the concessions offered by the Mapai party to the religious group.

Meanwhile, pro-Mapai newspapers sought to jolt the religious group into action by publishing reports that the only alternative to the small coalition to be led by Ben-Gurion was new elections. Mapai is reportedly pressing the National Religious Party for a speedy decision as Mr. Ben-Gurion would like to report to President Izhak Ben-Zvi tomorrow whether or not he is prepared to accept the mandate to form a new government.