Two Non-confidence Motions Against Israel Cabinet Defeated in Knesset

The Israel Government beat off two challenges today when votes of no confidence over its handling of the refusal of the Haifa municipal administration to close an industrial exhibition on the Sabbath were defeated. The votes and the furor in the Knesset, however, are reported to have resulted in a promise by Premier David Ben Gurion to give “more consideration” to the Orthodox point of view.

The first vote was proposed by the Herut. The posing of the question embarrassed the religious parties, which are members of the coalition. They could not vote against the Herut motion since it supported a protest which they themselves had raised nationally. On the other hand, they could not vote with the right-wing opposition party and thus endanger the life of the coalition government.

In the midst of this wrangle, Premier Ben Gurion made a personal appeal to the religious deputies to act in a “moderate” manner and to remember that “we have to live together.” The religious deputies then abstained, insuring the defeat of the Herut resolution by 55 to 11, with 26 abstentions. The Poale Agudah then proposed a similar vote of no confidence and was put down by 52 to three with 33 abstentions. The Communists and General Zionists joined the religious bloc in abstaining.

(The Agudath Israel of America today protested to Israel Prime Minister David Ben. Gurion and Haifa’s Mayor Abba Hushi against what it termed “desecration of the Sabbath” by the industrial exhibition in Haifa which remains open on Saturday. In its cable of protest, the organization expressed its solidarity with Israeli religious Jews who demonstrated in protest against the exhibit last Saturday in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities.)