B-G-Eshkol Rift Seen Irreparable
as:Mapai Opens Annual Convention
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
The Jewish News)
TEL AVIV — The Mapai Party,
dominant political grouping of
Israel, opened its annual conven-
tion here Tuesday amid indications
that the battle between former Pre-
mier David Ben-Gurion and Prime
Minister Levi Eshkol may be be-
yond repair. •
As both sides squared off for a
tough battle before a record at-
tendance of 2,263 delegates to the
conference, Ben-Gurion and one of
his journalistic supporters pub-
lished sensational articles, which,
if anything, aggravated the situa-
tion.
The two principal items on which
conflicts are certain to arise at
the convention are Eshkol's plan
for "alignment" of Mapai with. an-
other labor party, Ahdut Avodah,
and Ben-Gurion's insistence that
the government set up a new judi-
cial body to probe into the old ex-
plosive Lavon issue.
Neither of these 'issues is on the
official agenda, but the Mapai
secretariat said that the delega-
tion will be allowed to raise the
topics from the floor.
Ben-Gurion had stated previously
that he would not attend the con-
vention, and he issued in Tues-
day's newspapers an article titled
"In Lieu of an Address to the Con-
vention. - He has changed his mind
and said Tuesday he will go to
the convention, but his "In Lieu"
article. meanwhile, repeated his
demand for electoral reform charg-
ing that the present system is "un-
democratic and ugly."
He also touched on international
affairs. taking a swipe at Mrs.
Golda Meir, Israel's foreign minis-
ter, who has been backing Eshkol.
He stated that when he was prime
minister, Mrs. Meir's attitude to-
ward Germany did not please him.
The other publication con-
sisted of excerpts from Ben-
Gm-ion's forthcoming "W hit e
Paper" on the Lavon affair.
This book had been written for
Ben-Gurion by Haggai Eshed, a
local journalist. In the excerpts
furnished to the press by Eshed,
the latter hints:
1. That Pinhas Lavon. when he
was minister of defense, kept the
then-Prime Minister Moshe Shar-
ett in the dark about "security af-
fairs." It was due to a "security
mishap" never spelled out openly
that Lavon was ultimately fired
from his defense ministry post.
2.. That Sharett had complained
when he learned about "various
operations" by Israel and about
the "non-confidence" existing then
between Lavon and. Gen. Moshe
Dayan, then chief of staff of Is-
rael's defense forces.
3. That Dayan had actually sub-
mitted his resignation after Lavon
had withheld approval of an agree-
ment to purchase tanks from
France because, presumably, Lavon
disapproved of the "French orien-
tation."
4. That a "senior personality"
described the Lavon-Dayan situa-
tion then as one posing before the
government a choice as between
Dayan and Lavon.
These matters were before the
delegates as the convention met
in an atmosphere of great tension.
Efforts were still being made Tues-
day to patch the Ben-Gurion-Eshkol
rift by bringing both together at
a conference with President Zal-
man Shazar.
But since such a move had failed
previously, there was little hope
that even the President would find
room for conciliation of the dia-
metrically opposed Eshkol-Ben-
Gurion views.
In his address Tuesday, Eshkol
said relations between Israel and
the United States are "now
stronger than ever."
A large audience listened to the
Premier at the opening session,
which was attended by President
Zalman Shazar, diplomatic repre-
sentatives from 45 governments
around the world, members of Is-
rael's cabinet and representatives
of the non .Mapai labor parties in
this country. Former Prime Mini-
ter David Ben-Gurion received an
exuberant ovation when he entered
the hall after the proceedings had
gotten under way.
Much of Eshkol's address was
devoted to a review of foreign af-
fairs, although he spoke also of
domestic matters. Regarding rela-
tions with the United States, he
said — after assuring the conven-
tion that Israel-American relations
are strong now:
"I hope the wide agreement be-
tween us on essential problems —
on water and on desalination —
will stand. We also watch the Uni-
ted States intentions to help the
cause of peace in this area in con-
nection with the Arabs' search for
arms and the action of the Arab
countries which have established a
combined command in order to at-
tack Israel."
Touching on the Arab-Israeli
situation, he told the convention:
"No one should play with the idea
that non-combat aggression, like
that of diverting water sources,
will remain without reaction on
our part. We still hope that Leba-
non will refrain from being swept
by the negative, nationalistic no-
tion of 'neither you nor me.'"
That statement was a reference
to plans announced for diverting
Jordan River headwaters in Leba-
non in such a manner that Lebanon
would rather waste those waters
than let Israel benefit from their
flow.
"But," continued Eshkol, "once
we are faced with acts which
mean that our essential irrigation
waters will be taken away, we
shall not hesitate and we will de-
fend our state and our waters with
all our might." He told the as-
sembly that, `simultaneously with
its defense ability, Israel's army
must be in such a position that
the enemy would have to take our
reaction into account and will re-
frain from any adventures."
(At an earlier Mapai rally,
Eshkol announced the Hawk
ground-to-air missiles sold to
Israel by the United States under
a 1962 agreement are about to
become operational at one of
Israel's air force bases.
(Addressing the rally at Ashke-
lon, Eshkol, who issued a warning
against resumption of Egyptian in-
filtration into Israel, said that a
commander and a crew for the spe-
cial Hawk units have already been
named, and that the missiles will
soon be deployed in "appropriate"
positions. Both the commander
and the crew of the units have
been trained in the United States.
("Emplacement of the Hawks."
said the Premier, "is one more
step in our continuing efforts to
equip the Israeli defense forces."
In speaking of renewed Egyptian
infiltration. he referred to the fact
that, last week an Israeli army
patrol car ran over a mine, re-
sulting in the injury of a number
of Israeli soldiers.
(The sale of the Hawks to Israel
was authorized more than two
years ago by the late President
Kennedy to help balance Israel's
defenses against Soviet deliveries
of heavy bombers to Egypt and
Iraq. The number of Hawks ac-
quired by Israel under this ar-
rangement has never been an-
nounced.)
Touching briefly on relations
with France, Eshkol told the
convention: "I am still convinc-
ed there will be no change in
our friendly relations." He noted
that he will meet with Britain's
Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
"I hope," he said, "friendly dec-
larations will be made by the
Labor Government personali-
ties." He added that the back-
ground exists for friendly Brit-
ish-Israeli discussion of mutual
problems.
The Prime Minister called at-
tention to the more recent de-
velopments in relations between
Israel and Germany, which were
debated in Parliament in Jeru-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 19, 1965-7
population of 3,000.000. Thus, he dustrial developments, he said,
said, there will be a need for in- will absorb 70,000 new workers
creased production and the "res- before the end of the 60's.
training" of private consumption
He asked the country to increase
without diminishing the country's its efforts to help the growth of
standard of living.
more Jewish education in Jewish
salem Monday. "Jewish morality,"
In spite of the shortage of water communities outside of Israel, and
he said, "does not recognize the resources, he said, more settle- promote the integration of the non-
attitude of holding the son re- ments will be established in the Israeli Jewish communities with
sponsible for the sins of his father. Galilee region and elsewhere. In- Israel's identity.
But it is the sons that stand to the
test now. And, in this test. we can
see the terrible moral weakness
in the yielding of the West Ger-
man government to the blackmail
by Nasser.
"Israel." he continued, "does''ot
accept the definition of 'zones
tension.' There can be no ex-
planation for such yielding. There
are attackers and there is Israel,
which is the target of aggression.
There is no justification for help-
ing the attackers as there is no
justification for prevention of aid
for the victims of aggressions."
Eshkol touched on the govern-
ment's relations with the East-
Kashruth Supervision by
ern bloc, saying that efforts
have been made to improve rela-
prominent Orthodox Rabbi:
tions between Israel and the
Rabbi Ben Zion Rosenthal
Communist countries. He also
and two steady Moshgichim
expressed his "disappointment"
over the attitude toward Israel
on the part of Communist China,
U. I. Gov't Inspect.;
noting that "Israel recognizes
the great importance of China
WILNO KOSHER G c E NE RAL o i L et. F44 0: 1 6 .7 110607/
in Asia and in the world."
SALAMI . FRANKFURTERS • CORNED BEEF •
BOLOGNA
Coming to domestic affairs, Esh-
Distributed in Detroit and Michigan by:
kol predicted that, by the end of
this decade, Israel will have a JULIUS POLLAK, 7522 Fenkell, Detroit
Tel.: UN 2-5820
lino LtaArc2:".q.
kosbelz ici=ad
SALAMI
What's the difference'
between vegetarian
-8( strictly vegetarian?
•
a
, VE GETARI A N
\ BEA
N TOMATO SAUCE
ff'cui
H E 1 NZ
a'
at. PI TTSBURG
00F.
.1EG.
u. s_
p*T•
O
*Kosher and parve, of course.
Every label carries the seal of approval of the
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America