In a brief “report to the nation” delivered in the Parliament last night, Israeli Premier David Ben Gurion promised to reveal within a few days whether he is able to form a coalition government.
The Premier reiterated the four principles upon which any coalition government which he leads must base itself. These points he listed as: building national security; gathering-in the exiles; building up the country; and, strengthening world peace. Any party which agrees with these principles, he asserted, can join the Mapai in a coalition government.
After his speech, representatives of various opposition parties insisted that all parties in the country could agree on these points. But, they said, the problem which is holding up the formation of a government is how to implement these principles.
Following the announcement that the left-wing Mapam Party would not join a coalition led by the Mapai, observers here expressed optimism that a government would shortly be formed. Ben Gurion met today with representatives of the General Zionists and the Religious Laborites and both parties are expected to join the Cabinet.
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