Weizman to Head New Party in the July 23 Elections

Former Defense Minister Ezer Weizman will head a new party, Yahad, in the July 23 Knesset elections. But the other candidates who will appear on his slate have not been identified and the program he espouses is only vaguely known, largely through hints dropped to the press by colleagues.

Weizman has specific economic proposals. But these were deleted from recent radio and television interviews on orders from Uri Porat, the new director general of the Broadcast Authority. Porat, who has met with Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Bach to discuss restrictions on broadcasting during the election campaign, said the proposals were election propaganda.

SAID TO FAVOR DIALOGUE WITH USSR, CHINA

Aides to the former defense chief said Weizman favors an Israeli initiative to open a dialogue with the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. He is said to believe the Likud government has not done enough to establish contacts with Moscow for the renewal of diplomatic relations. He regards the re-establishment of ties with the USSR to be a key factor in any further Middle East peace talks, the aides said.

Weizman also believes such a move would facilitate the emigration of Soviet Jews. He would like some sort of relations with Peking as well and suggests using Washington’s developing relations with the Chinese governments to further Israel’s interests there.

Weizman conceded in his media interviews that at least two of the persons he approached declined to run for the Knesset on the Yahad ticket. He did not name them nor would he name those who are willing to run.