Policy Shift Within Due After Election Meir's Labor Party

An Israeli graduate student told a group of students at Lowell House last night that he believes the true significance of the upcoming elections in Israel will lie in shifts within the ruling Labor Party.

Shmuel Harlap, a graduate student in political science, said that though the people in Israel do not have complete confidence in Golda Meir and her government, she will undoubtedly continue as prime minister. However, he said he anticipates changes in the Labor Party as a result of this lack of confidence.

"The people blame Golda for two things: first, in sanctioning open trade and the importation of cheap Arab labor along the west bank," she has encouraged exploitation of the workers, he said.

"Secondly, by continuing in power, she had also made possible the continuation of that stance which led us into the October war. The people are afraid of what seems to be a 'hard-line' stance. We do not want to encourage the fighting," he said.