Vale Atque Ave

In Jerusalem, halo-haired Premier David Ben-Gurion, 76, handed in his resignation for the eighth time in his 15 years in office. Israel was not unduly disturbed, since Ben-Gurion is as famed for resignations as for such other idiosyncrasies as standing on his head and advocating friendly relations with Germans. But what startled people and politicians this time was the fact that Ben-Gurion also gave up his parliamentary seat in the Knesset, an act that would leave him ineligible for future Cabinet office. Asked why, Ben-Gurion firmly replied, "Personal needs. I propose to keep them to myself."

Weary Chief. In fact, Ben-Gurion was weary of politics--and disturbed by a rising generation that questions his leadership. His Mapai Party was irrevocably split by the 1960-61 Lavon affair, which also tangled the army in politics.* Ben-Gurion has continually had to arbitrate disputes and pacify antagonists. Finally, he has nearly despaired of reducing the multiplicity of parties (15 in all), despite his argument that "if the U.S. with its huge population can get along with two parties, why can't we with only 2,000,000 people?"

"B-G" was not too weary of politics to hand-pick his successor: Ukrainian-born Finance Minister Levi Eshkol, 67, who has brought Israel from a hand-to-mouth economy to the point where its gross national product has risen an average of 11% annually over the past five years, and its dollar surplus is almost an embarrassment. Twice married but now a widower, Eshkol has four daughters, one of whom teaches dancing in Jerusalem, while another is a sergeant in the Israeli army. His new Cabinet strongly resembles Ben-Gurion's old one, and it is unlikely there will be any radical changes in foreign or domestic policy. A far more adaptable man than Ben-Gurion, Eshkol will probably govern more through compromise than by fiat.

Pet Project. The governmental transition might have been uneventful except that, sure enough, Ben-Gurion suddenly withdrew his resignation from the Knesset, on condition that he would only attend parliamentary sessions if he felt like it. Neither Eshkol nor the opposition politicians were too happy about Ben-Gurion's keeping his foot in the door. Now, should Eshkol falter or a crisis threaten, Ben-Gurion might charge back into office to save the country from alleged disaster.

Meanwhile, Ben-Gurion plans to live at the Sde Boker kibbutz in the bleak Negev desert and turn out books on everything from Jewish history to his own autobiography. He hopes also to further his pet project: the "cultural absorption" of Jewish immigrants from Asia and North Africa into Israel's predominantly Western society. Ben-Gurion argues that unless the Oriental Jews are educated faster, Israel may turn into a typically "indolent" Levantine state within ten years.

* Israeli Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon was forced from office in 1955 on allegations that he disastrously bungled an Israeli espionage operation abroad, presumably in Egypt. Lavon pleaded that he had been framed by highly placed political enemies. He was finally cleared two years ago by the Israeli Cabinet, over Ben-Gurion's violent objections.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.