Formation of a “Liberal Faction” within the Histadrut, the Israel Federation of Labor, sparked hopes in Israel today of a merger of “liberal” forces that might ultimately emerge as a “second party” in the nations politics, superseding the present multi-party system.
The new faction in Histadrut was formed by the merger of the General Zionist and Progressive party sections in the Histadrut into a new, unified faction comprising about ten percent of the federation’s membership, Moshe Kol, a Progressive party leader who was instrumental in bringing about the merger, told a public meeting here last night that he believed the new faction would lead to the renaissance of the labor movement in Israel.
The political implications of the merger were spelled out at the same meeting by Dr. Peretz Bernstein, leader of the General Zionist party, and Dr. Pinhas Rosen, retiring Minister of Justice and leader of the Progressive party.
Dr. Bernstein declared that “the time is now ripe for a further union in the liberal forces in Israel.” Dr. Rosen voiced agreement. He added that he had always favored union of the Progressives and General Zionists but had not acted on a merger because of fear that important personalities within the Progressive party would not go along with it.
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.
