Eshkol Forms New Israeli Govt.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 9

Eshkol Forms New Israeli Govt.

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) JERUSALEM, January 13. The Israel Knesset (Parliament) last night passed a vote of confidence in the new coalition Government headed by Mr Levi Eshkol by 71 votes to 41.

Eighteen new Ministers took their oath of office then drove to the residence of the President, Mr Zalman Shazar. According to a close aide, the Prime Minister will begin a holiday next week to recuperate from his recent illness. Earlier today Mr Eshkol presented the Cabinet to the Knesset and called for an end to the arms race in the Middle East. He said the prospects of peace and stability would be strengthened if the Western Powers and the Soviet Union reached an agreed policy

assuring the independence and integrity of all Middle Eastern countries. The new Prime Minister said in an interview published in Paris that he believed in the future friendship between Jews and Arabs.

He told “Le Monde”: “This may appear naive to you, but I deeply believe in future friendship between Jews and Arabs, who are of the same descent—cousins in a way.” At the start of the Zionist movement there had been no antagonism between the two peoples, he said. “I am convinced that with a better understanding of their mutual interests, Jews and Arabs will get together one day,” Mr Eshkol was quoted as saying.