Mrs. Meir Seeks to Bring Mapam and Gahal Together to Pave Way for New Government

Premier Golda Meir moved today to bring the Mapam and Gahal factions together in order to pave the way for the creation of a broadly based national Government. Mapam a partner in the Labor Alignment, has balked at joining a coalition with the rightist, nationalist Gahal (Herut-Liberal Alignment). Mapam’s views differ sharply from Gahal’s on matters of foreign policy, the occupied territories and domestic economic and social matters. Some politicians have been talking about a Cabinet without Mapam and others have said that Gahal, the second largest party in the country, would be excluded. But Mrs. Meir was expected be able to induce Mapam to join a Cabinet with Gahal if it is not called a coalition but a “Government of National Unity.”