David Ben Gurion tonight announced to the Israel Parliament the formation of a 13-man Cabinet following the reaching of an agreement between the Israel Labor Party, Mapai, and the Religious Bloc. The Knesset was scheduled to vote on the new government later tonight. (At the time the Bulletin went to press the Knesset had not yet voted.)
Meanwhile, Jack Gering, a non-party member and prominent South African financial expert, agreed to join the Cabinet following a conference with leaders of the Mapai who pledged that reservations which he had concerning his preregatives as Minister of Trada and Industry would be settled after he joins the government.
A joint statement issued by the Mapai and the Religious Bloc said that they agreed to support the coalition government until January, 1953, when elections will be held. The agreement ## also signed by Dr. Pinhas Rosen, leader of the Progreesive Party, who has acted as mediator between the two parties. The agreement is considered by observers here as a victory for Premier Ben Gurion.
The joint statement said that the parties had agreed: to maintain the status quo in religious practices; to proclaim freedom of conscience; to import kosher meat only with the agreement of the Supply Minister and the Religious Bloc. In the event of disagreement, the matter would be decided by the full Cabinet. The Mizrachi today reversed the position which it took yesterday and promised to vote for the new Cabinet.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
