The resignation of Zalman Aranne as Minister of Education in Premier David Ben-Gurion’s coalition cabinet must be considered as final and will probably be accepted by the cabinet at its meeting next Sunday, informed sources said today.
Mr. Aranne, a member of the premier’s Mapai Party, resigned during Mr. Ben-Gurion’s absence from the country when the Mapai Party and a majority of the cabinet, both acting under pressure of Histadrut, the General Labor Federation, refused to support his decision to recognize an independent association of high school teachers. The secondary school teachers split from the Histadrut-affiliated teachers’ union more than a year ago, but the Government refused to recognize the association as a bargaining agent.
Premier Ben-Gurion had a long talk with Mr. Aranne on Sunday but failed to persuade him to withdraw his resignation. Davar, the organ of the Histadrut, in an editorial today, expressed sorrow over Mr. Aranne’s decision to quit the cabinet.
Prominently mentioned to succeed Mr. Aranne were Abba S. Eban, former Ambassador to Washington and presently Minister without Portfolio; former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, and S. Izhar, the well-known writer Izhar Smilanski. All three are members of Mapai. While Mr. Sharett is considered the “ideal” candidate both by Mapai and reportedly also by Premier Ben-Gurion, he is reported as not being included to accept the post.
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