Fifth Knesset
(1961 - 1965)
Among the many issues dealt with by the fifth
Knesset were the government's new economic policy, which concerned
the stabilization of the market by means of price stability and setting
a single exchange rate. This policy was harshly criticized.
The subject of discrimination on grounds of ethnic
origin came up for frequent debate, especially in connection with the Bnei Yisrael community from
India, whose Judaism was questioned
by the religious authorities, and in connection with the small number
of students in the institutes for higher education of North African
origin.
The end of the Eichmann
trial, the affair of the German scientists working with Egypt and the establishment of diplomatic relations with West Germany also
caused a storm.
The decision to enable the bringing to Israel of the
remains of the Revisionist leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky symbolized a change in attitude of the government, under Mapai,
towards the Herut Movement,
while the cancellation of the military adminstration regarding the Druze population (as a first stage) symbolized the beginning of a change
in the attitude of the state towards the minorities living in it.
The Lavon Affair refused to get off the agenda, especially because of the attitude of David Ben Gurion; and
the affair of the expulsion of Dr. Re'uven Soblen - a Jew whose extradition
on grounds of spying was requested by the U.S. - placed the issue of
the application of the Law
of Return on the agenda.
Sources: The Knesset |