Dayan row: new talks?

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 8

Dayan row: new talks?

NZPA-Reuter Tel Aviv Mr Menachem Begin, leader of the victorious Right-wing Likud Party in the Israeli General Election, is expected to tell the reformist Democratic Movement for Change if he is prepared to negotiate the appointment of Cabinet Ministers.

Mr Begin needs the support of the D.M.C. if he is to command a strong majority in Parliament. However, the D.M.C. broke off negotiations on a coalition government last week when Mr Begin said that he was offering the post of Foreign Minister to General Moshe Dayan, one of Israel’s bestknown soldiers, who was the centre of controversy during the 1973 war. General Dayan was blamed by many Israelis for being chiefly responsible for set-backs against Arab forces in the early part of the war. General Dayan then headed the Defence Ministry. The D.M.C. has said it will reopen talks on the formation of a coalition government only if Mr Begin agreed to allow the question of Ministerial appointments to be part of the negotiations.

A Likud spokesman said that Mr Begin may transmit his reply to the D.M.C. today after conferring with the party executive committee. Without the D.M.C. Mr Begin would be mainly dependent on religious parties. The ull r a-nationalist Shlomzion Party, which won two Parliamentary seats, voted to dissolve itself yesterday and to join the Likud. Its leader, reservist General “Arik” Sharon, is expected to get a Cabinet post. Meanwhile, President Ephraim Katzir continues his consultations with the nation’s political parties to form a new government. He is to meet leaders of the beaten Labour alliance after conferring with the Likud.