Portrait of Pinhas Lavon

(Original Caption) Pinhas Lavon, focal point of the greatest political storm in Israeli history, resigned, Feb. 9, as Secretary General of the Histradut Labor Federation. Lavon, temporarily removed from political power by the resignation, was forced to quit to end the feud between Ben-Gurion's Mapai Labor Party and Lavon's supporters. Lavon was cleared recently of any blame for a secrecy shrouded security operation failure in 1954 by the country's former coalition cabinet. Ben-Gurion did not agree with the cabinet's decision and demanded they re-open the case. Finally Ben-Gurion resigned, Jan. 31, in protest to the cabinet decision, automatically bringing about the fall of the government. Ben-Gurion is now acting as caretaker Premier until President Ben-Zvi can find someone to form a new government.