West German Anns Deal Passes Israeli Parliament

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 11

West German Anns Deal Passes Israeli Parliament

JERUSALEM, July 1. The Israeli Parliament today approved the controversial arms deal of the Prime Minister (Mr Ben-Gurion) with West Germany by 57 votes to 45, with six abstentions. The Prime Minister had earlier threatened to resign if the £1,000,000 deal was not confirmed. The deal had been strongly opposed by the Communists and Left-wing Mapam Party. Leftwing Ministers in Mr BenGurion’s Cabinet had also criticised the arms contract, and called on him to tender the Government’s resignation. An exchange of letters between Mr Ben-Gurion and his rebel Ministers was made public as the Prime Minister was speaking in defence of the arms contract in the Knesseth (Parliament).

Mr Ben-Gurion answered their resignation call by saying their refusal to resign before voting in the House against the Government constituted an “unprecedented

abuse of confidence as well as a violation of the law.” The exchange of letters was regarded by Parliamentary observers as part of Mr Ben-Gurion's attempt to compel the rebels to resign so that he can continue without them as head of a caretaker Government until new elections , ’ Mr Ben-Gurion told the rebel Ministers that they had violated Constitutional laws and their own undertakings and should themselves withdraw from the Cabinet. ■' Mr Ben-Gurion, in his speech winding up the debate, said security Interests dictated the arms deal with West Germany. He said Israel was facing the threat from “disciples of Hitler in the Middle East.” Like his critics, the Prime Minister invoked the memory of the 6,000,000 Jews who were massacred by the Nazis in World War 11, but, he said, “if the victims of this catastrophe could express their views they would say: “Be strong and brave.”