Yitzhak Shamir and David levy, bitter rivals for leadership of Herut, met in the Foreign Minister’s office alone Tuesday evening, their first meeting since the Herut convention broke up in chaos five days ago. It was at Shamir’s initiative.
The meeting was unannounced and levy, who is Minister of Housing, told reporters before entering Shamir’s office that it was up to the two of them to find ways to heal the rift in Herut. He admitted, however, that he was not bringing any formula of his own. Aides to Levy said he was prepared to listen to whatever ideas Shamir might advance.
It was learned later that Shamir extended an invitation to Levy which the latter promptly accepted. Herut sources said earlier Tuesday that the rival camps remained at odds over a proposal by Minister of Commerce Ariel Sharon, also a contender for Herut leadership. Sharon has suggested a three-way powersharing arrangement by which Shamir would be elected chairman of Herut, Levy chairman of its Executive Committee and Sharon chairman of the Central Committee.
Shamir, denied endorsement at the aborted convention, insists that he hold both the party and Executive Committee chairmanships, a tradition established by former Premier Menachem Begin who held both positions during his many years as undisputed leader of Herut.
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.
