Incompatibility

ISRAEL

When David Ben-Gurion became Israel's first Prime Minister, in 1949, his mildly socialistic Mapai Party had less than a majority in the Knesset (Parliament). To form a government, he had a choice: coalition with the pro-Soviet Mapam, or with a bloc of four orthodox religious parties.

Ben-Gurion chose the religious bloc.

The marriage of convenience began peacefully enough. Bride and bridegroom agreed that religious differences would be subordinate to foreign affairs (mainly trouble with the Arabs) and a precarious economic position. Ben-Gurion gave the religionist bloc three cabinet posts: Religious Affairs, Social Welfare, Health & Immigration.

Then the religionists began nagging.

They insisted on strict enforcement of the Sabbath, which caused grumbling from the more worldly Mapai partner. They demanded that Yemenite children, who were arriving at immigrant camps in droves, be entered in orthodox religious schools, and Ben-Gurion gave in. But when the government set up immigrant work villages, and the orthodox bloc insisted that the schooling arrangement be carried over into them, the Premier balked.

He refused when the bloc asked for the newly created ministry of Trade & Economy. For a while the religionist spouse left its government home, then returned when aged President Chaim Weizmann patched things up. Ben-Gurion got a non-partisan minister of Trade & Economy, but had to promise that the government would buy nothing but Kosher meat.

Last week the squabble reached a breaking point again. In the Knesset, the religionists took up their old demand for control of the religious education of immigrant children. The public galleries were filled with the bloc's supporters, mostly bearded, black-hatted Jews in caftans and side curls.

For two days David Ben-Gurion scrunched his stubby body in a huge chair at the cabinet table, frowned in silence as words beat around him. Then he got up and announced, in effect, that he was ready for a bill of divorcement. He asked for a vote of confidence on the education issue.

Scolded the Premier: "We will never allow the religious bloc exclusive discretion on matters of education . . . We represent Judaism no less than you do ... We are no worse than you and no less tied to Jewish roots and the past."

The vote went 49 to 42 against the government. Having expected no less, Ben-Gurion resigned, prepared for new elections in May or June. He believed that he might find a new and more compatible partner in the moderate right-wing General Zionist Party, which now has only seven Knesset seats, but has shown up-&-coming strength in recent municipal elections and may well increase its ballot. Once more President Weizmann went through the motions of peacemaker. It seemed no use. Ben-Gurion wanted a new political bride.

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