Labor Circles Say Almogi’s Election is a Virtual Certainty

Labor Party circles claimed today that the election of Haifa Mayor Yosef Almogi to the chairmanship of the World Zionist Organization was a virtual certainty. Although the Labor Party Leadership Bureau so far has not formally endorsed Almogi as a candidate, it is expected to do so at a meeting later this week.

Meanwhile, the Laborites said they have been assured of sufficient support in the 110-member Zionist General Council to guarantee Almogi’s election when the Council meets in January. They said that in that case, his election to the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency Executive would follow automatically when the Jewish Agency General Assembly convenes next summer.

Observers here believe that the election of Almogi, who faces strong opposition from Jewish Agency treasurer and acting chairman Leon Dulzin, would hinge on the votes of the World Confederation of General Zionists and the Mizrachi. Premier Yitzhak Rabin met with Confederation leaders here last night, among them Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson and Ezra Shapiro. No details of the meeting were disclosed but the participants did not deny that the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency and WZO, vacant since the death of Pinhas Sapir last August, was discussed.

The breakdown of votes in the Zionist General Council is as follows: Labor 32; Mapam 7; Zionist Confederation, 20; Mizrachi, 18; World Union of General Zionists, 16; Herut, 10; Independent Liberals, 3; WIZO, 4. The Reform movement will formally join the WZO at the January meeting of the Zionist General Council but will have no vote on internal issues.