Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett last night made an impassioned plea to Premier David Ben Gurion to reconsider his decision to resign his Cabinet posts this month. The plea was made at a meeting of the Mapai’s political committee which heard the Premier’s reasons for resignation.
Despite all pleas and arguments Mr. Ben Gurion was reported firm in his resolve to drop all Cabinet posts, although he is said to have indicated a desire to hold his seat in Parliament. He stated that the reason for the decision to retire was that after 20 years of strenuous political activity he was very tired. He denied rumors that his resignation was caused by differences of opinion with other party leaders.
Mr. Sharett told Mr. Ben Gurion that his stepping down would have a serious effect on the party, on the coalition and on the international factors relating to Israel. Almost every member of the political committee participated in the debate which ended in a decision to refer the resignation to the Mapai central committee, which meets tomorrow evening in Tel Aviv. If the central committee accepts it, the political committee will meet again next week to name a successor to Mr. Ben Gurion.
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