ISRAEL: Sons of the Founders

In an unpretentious Tel Aviv movie theater last week, Israel's dominant Labor Party gathered to complete a momentous political shift. By a close (298-254) but generally amicable vote, the party's central committee chose Labor Minister Yitzhak Rabin, 52, over Information Minister Shimon Peres, 51, to become Israel's fifth Premier. Rabin will have six weeks at most to put together a coalition government to succeed the present caretaker Cabinet of Premier Golda Meir. If he fails—as some believe he will—new elections will likely be called.

Rabin's selection shattered precedent. The shy, slender, native-born son...

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