British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 957

CHAPTER XXIII.

total in the last elections. A labour system of education is maintained under the aegis of the General Council of the Jewish Community. The party has uncompromisingly adopted the Biltmore Programme. Its principal party Organ is the daily newspaper, Davar.

AHDUT Avoda, (Movement for Labour Unity).

34. This party seceded from the Mapai in June, 1944. It differs from the Mapai mainly in two respects; it is more radically socialist in internal affairs, and more maximalist in matters of Zionist policy. The bulk of its supporters are to be found in the collective settlements organized in the Kibbnts M euluul group. Leading figures are Mr. I. Tabenkin and Mr. A. Zisling. At the last elections in the General Federation of Labour the party polled 18 ,840 votes or 17. 7 % of the total. It has adopted the Biltmore Programme.

HASHOMER HATSAIR (The Young Guard).

35. This party stands to the left of both the foregoing parties and stresses anti-capitalism and class-consciousness. It has some 6,000 members in collective settlements organized in the Kibbuts Arzi. It stands in opposition to practically all other Zionist parties in advocating a bi-national (Jewish-Arab) independent State in Palestine, and is opposed to the Biltmore Programme while favouring unrestricted immigration into, and settlement of Jews in, Palestine. It polled about 16,000 votes or 15% in the last Histadruth elections. Leading figures are Mr. M. Ben Tov, Mr. M. Yaari and Mr. Y. Hazan.

POEL MIZRAHI (Mizrahi Workers).

36. This party, while sharing the nationalist outlook of the foregoing parties, bases its domestic policies primarily on religion rather than on economics. It strives for the adoption of the tenets of religious Judaism in the everyday life of the community; its Zionist aim is the establishment of a Jewish state based on the Torah (the Law). The party embraces a number of orthodox religious agricultural workers' settlements and orthodox Zionist workers in the towns. This composition gives it a distinctive social outlook based on practical rather than ideological activities in favour of the working class. The party operates as a labour union for its members, who are outside the General Federation of Labour. Its present membership is estimated at 10 ,000 and it polled 19 ,372 votes or 10% of the total at the last elections to the Elected Assembly. Its representative on the Executive of the Jewish Agency is Mr. M. Shapiro. The party has adopted the Biltmore Programme.

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