The leadership of the National Religious Party tonight rejected the bid by David Ben-Gurion for the formation of a coalition Cabinet consisting of Mapai the Religious parties and the Arab deputies. The decision by the NRP, was adopted at a meeting of the party’s central committee by a vote of eight to seven with six abstentions.
A decision calling on the party leadership to continue attempts to form a government based on the present coalition, passed unanimously. Commenting on the decision by the religious party not to participate in a “narrow coalition,” Mapai secretary-general Yosef Almogi said “This means elections.”
Meanwhile Herut, the General Zionists and the Progressive party were reported today to be holding discussions on the possibility of forming a Liberal Front to embrace all non-Socialist parties as Israel’s Government crisis neared the end of its first month.
The central committee of Herut heard a report from Herut leader Menachem Beigin on talks for that purpose with the General Zionists. He stressed that if the two parties merged, they could become an alternative to the Mapai party after the next elections.
Yohanan Bader, another Herut leader, outlined an alternative to complete merger. He suggested a federation in which each party would retain independence but with the party factions in Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, cooperating. Under his approval, the two parties would present a united list of candidates in the next election. The federation, he said would remain open for adherence by other non-Socialist parties.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
