Israel’s Political Parties Evaluate Results of the Elections

Reaction of the various political parties to the results of yesterday’s national elections are reflected in editorials today, carried by the official organs of these parties.

Davar, organ of Histadrut, which is dominated by the Mapai, emphasized that, despite the election setback, Mapai is still far ahead of all other parties. At the same-time the Davar editorial stressed that it would be a mistake if Mapai were not to learn a full lesson from the results — that the public is sensitive to what happens in a large and responsible party. “A spirit of unity and conciliation must now pervade in the leading labor party,” the paper declared.

Haboker, the organ of the General Zionist faction of the Liberal Party, said the revolutionary change in the balance of forces, which many Israelis expected, did not occur. While noting that the Liberals gained in strength, the paper said there will still be the need for a determined effort to achieve consolidation and expansion so that the Liberals may be able to present itself as Mapai’s main rival.

Hatzofeh, organ of the National Religious party, said that the results proved once more that the nation prefers a coalition. Al Hamishmar, organ of the Mapam Party, said: that Mapai had “paid the price though not the full price, for its attacks on democracy.” Lamerchav, organ of the Achdut Avodah, complimented the voters for their “political maturity.”