Behor Shitreet, a member of every Israeli Cabinet since statehood, resigned last night as Minister of Police for reasons of health but said he would continue to be active in Parliament and in Mapai party institutions.
The 72-year-old former police officer and magistrate indicated he thought Yosef Nahmias, the Israeli Ambassador to Brazil, a former police chief, would be the best man to replace him. Other suggested nominees mentioned were Beersheba Mayor Eliahu Nawi, Deputy Speaker Israel Yeshayahu and former Knesset member Shlomo Hillel who is presently Israel’s deputy representative at the United Nations in New York.
Premier Eshkol accepted the resignation with “great regret.” Some sources in the Government were reported to feel there was no need for a special police Ministry. Former Premier David Ben-Gurion’s dissident Israel Workers Party (Rafi) had already submitted a formal proposal to Parliament to close the Ministry and merge its functions with the Interior or some other Ministry.
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