President Chaim Weizmann weighed today his next moves to resolve the week-old government crisis created by the resignation of Premier David Ben Gurion’s coalition cabinet. The President last night completed formal consultations with the leaders of all political parties represented in the Knesset, the Israel parliament, as provided under the “small constitution.” He was to meet again with Josef Sprinzak, Speaker of the Knesset, and with Mr. Ben Gurion before announcing his next move.
The President has three alternatives before him. He can renew attempts to patch up the coalition which fell last week, seek the formation of a broader coalition government or, discarding both these possibilities, commence negotiations for a transitional government to organize national elections and serve as a caretaker regime until a new parliament and government is elected.
Although Dr. Weizmann expressed strong objections to the holding of general elections at this time of world crisis and difficulties in Israel, the stand taken by most of the parties is believed to have left him no alternative. All the major parties expressed themselves strongly in favor of new elections. The General Zionist Party even insisted that June 5 be set as the deadline for the holding of new elections. Only one small party, the Sephardim, cams out strongly against new elections and for a coalition government based on the present parliamentary composition.
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