THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Rabin: Always on a Knife-Edge By UZI BENZIMZN (Copyright 1975, JTA, Inc.) JERUSALEM — A recent episode in the Knesset served to remind Israel's political community just how fragile and tenuous is the government's parlia- mentary position. In a joint session of the Knesset's De- fense and Foreign Affairs Committee and its Finance Committee, convened each Year to ratify the defense ouclget, the government found itself in the minority. Three Knesseters joined the opposition in its demand that defense spending be increased. Two other coali- tion members (ex-Rafi La- borites) deliberately ab- sented themselves from the session to facilitate the passing of the opposition's motion. The government was defeated 17-18. Mindful of the established parliamentary convention whereby a vote on the na- tional budget is considered a vote of confidence in the Cabinet as such, Premier Yitzhak Rabin made inten- sive efforts to revise the committee's decision. Rabin's pressure pro- duced only partial success — but it was enough. All the Labor Alignment members in the two committees hacked the Cabinet's de- mand for a revision of the vote, but one of them, ex- Rafi-ite Mordechai Ben Porat, violated his party's resolution by refusing to take part in the revised vote. Two of the NRP mem bers stuck tp their pre- vious position and again voted against the govern- ment proposal. Although the government eventually succeeded in having its way, the success was the result of considerable ef- fort. One factor that endagers the stability of the Cabinet is the unrealiability of sev- eral of the ex-Rafi members within Labor. Over the past year, several Rafi-ites made trouble for the government by out-of-line votes in the Knesset. The other factor that con- stantly challenges the gov- ernment is the NRP "Young Guard" — Knesseters Ye- hula Ben Meir and Zevulon Hammer. The Rafi Knesse- ters — or some of them — have objected to government policy in several cases over the past year. By their rebellious voting pattern both the Rafi Knes- seters and the NRP Young Guard have repeatedly dem- onstrated their disapproval of policy with regard to se- curity affairs. By voting against the government, Ben Meir and Hammer not only give ex- pression to their political credo but also serve notice on their party elders that their ultimate aim is to capture the leadership. The same applies to those members of Rafi who ob- jected to some of the gov- ernment's decisions. This permanent latent opposition to the Rabin gov- ernment from within has become possible because of the vacuum in the political leadership left by the disap- pearance of Golda Meir's government. Rabin has not filled this vacuum yet; it seems that he does not in- tend to. Rabin seems set on devel- oping a novel style of leader- ship that does not seek its support in the party but in the government's popularity with the general public. By taking this course, and flouting the well-worn party patterns, Rabin is taking advantage of the simple fact that the Alignment (and the Labor Party) has no alter- native for the premiership. p Friday, August 1, 1975 19 20% OFF W_< •- : ■ ) WITH THIS AD ON MOST ITEMS U mar SY DRAFT Office Art and Drafting Supply Office Furniture 23067 Coolidge at 9 Mile Rd., Oak Park 544-2430 FAVORITE FAVORS Featuring Creative -Centerpieces by Bev Kurtii e:fa "Fresh flowers or plants, silk flowers or straw, our arrange- ments are such to keep people 4, — 14,:b in awe. `5'14`56 4, NEW ORIGINAL PERSONALIZED 355-1590 FAVORS INVITATIONS 20% OFF The one stop shop to fill ALL your party needs . Sue Kutinsky 626=7312 • Dorsey Menken 626-5536 Gush Etzion Being Rebuilt Gush Etzion was almost completely destroyed after it was overrun in 1948, but since its recapture during the 1967 war many of the original settlers and their families have returned to the site of several villages and begun the rebuilding shown above. Flint Area News Tuesday — Bnai Brith and Bnai Brith Women joint hoard meeting, 8 p.m., home of Sybil Goldberg, 5344 Mapletree. Thursday — Flint. Jewish Community Council men's basketball, 6 p.m., Bassett Park. Cong. Beth Israel ex- ecutive board meeting, 7 p.m. and regular board meeting 8 p.m., synagogue. Births July 23 — To Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Rittman, a daughter, Amy Lynne.. ( OBITUARIES Joseph Weinstein Joseph Weinstein, owner and operator of Quality Market, died July 18 at age 62. Born in Poland, Mr. Weinstein lived in Flint for 36 yearns. He was a member of Cong. Beth Israel and Bnai Brith. He is survived by his wife, Manya; three sons, Marvin of Oak Park, Sheldon of Lin- den and Erwin of South- field; and two grandchil- dren. PINE LAKE MALL ORCHARD LAKE AND LONE PINE RD. 10am to 9pm Monday-Saturday, and noon to 5pm Sundays. Use your Master Charge, BankAmericard, or even cash.