The Phoenix Jewish news., 1961-09-08
Basis Of Coalition
Still Stands After
Election In Israel

JERUSALEM (JTA) = On the
day after Election Day, a car
toon in one of ISraelS dailieS show
ed the voters hand clipping the
claws of lion Ben-Gurion. The cap
ton read: "A few claws less" !.
However, a few "claws" less or
more, the picture remains SUBJ
stantially very much the same as
it was on election eve insofar as
the inter-party balance of power"
goes. The elections have not pro-
duced the alternative" to the Ma
pal regime.
The emergence of the Liberal
P a ty and the preservation by
Herut of its strength (Which may
even be increased by one seaO
may not herald an easy life for Ma
pal in the Fifth KneSset. But, even
with the losses incurred by Mapai,
the basis of the hitherto practiced
coalition arithmetic" has not been
upset.
NO DOUBT the formation of a
new government will prove to be
as complex and intricate task
as in the past - if not more so.
In this respect Prime Minister Ben
Gurion termed the election results
disastrous" For, said Ben-Gurion
from the point of view of the coun-
try'S needs, it makes little differ.
ence whether Mapai got 40 or &C
seats in the KneSset; what we
need" he said, "iS a majority OF
81" in order to change IsraePs cleo
toral system, eliminate the small
parties and splinter groups, a n d
introduce the two-party system.
Aware that this goal now has
been pushed back considerably,
Ben-Gurion declared bitterly and
outspokenly that the new govern
ment, quite obviously, will not rep
resent the will of the people but
will be the result of deals"
Indeed, the prospects are that
the conclusion of the deals may
take long weeks as the minority
parties - encouraged by their own
gains and by Mapai's loss of II
per cent of its parliamentary
strength - are all set to drive a
hard bargain. In practical terms
this will mean a demand for more,
and more important, cabinet posts
INSIDE MAPAI few are hiding
their feelings of disappointment
with the election results.
Despite the furor over the la.
Won affair."" very few observers
here had predicted any decline ir
Mapai's strength. This was based
on the record of the Mapai regime
whit C h, in its last tenure, has
brought economic prosperity and
maintained quiet on the borders
The standard of living rose, there
is no unemployment whatsoever
the housing situation has improv'
ed considerably, new roads were
laid across the country, the rate
of taxation was maintained, trade
and industry expanded, n e "
towns and settlements were built
Also in the field of international
relations, Mapai could point to i'm
portant achievements, notably the
developing of close ties with the
new nations of the African cont.
nent. A few weeks ago the govern
ment demonstrated achievements
in the field of technology w h r
ISrael'S first rocket Zoomed into
space.
THE PAST YEAR was also the
year of the capture of Eichmanr
and of bringing the architect of the
"final solution" to justice before ar
Israeli court. To all that, add the
efficient election campaign 20 n
Quoted by Mapai, on scale hith'
erto unknown in Israel.
Yet Mapai lost five seats. Mos
Mapai leaders attribute it to the
internal rift caused by the "Lavor
affair."" Thus observers now won
der whether the poSt-election per
iod will bring revival and height
ening of the internal riffs within
Mapai or whether - needing the
warning sign that came out of the
polls - a new effort will be made
to patch up the quarrels and close
ranks.
The unexpected gain made BY
the Communist Party will provide
food for much thought. Most of the
gain was made in the Arab sec
tor and, while some observers are
inclined to view it as also indirect
ly mirroring the improved relations
between the U.S.S.R. and the
U.A,R. others view it as reflectins