At the beginning of the year, the Knesset debated the government’s desire to move forward with negotiations with West Germany about reparations for Nazi war crimes conducted against the Jews. This sensitive issue divided the Knesset. While the General Zionists, Herut, Mapam and the Communists were vehemently opposed, many parties including some in the ruling Mapai had similar misgivings. A Gallup poll, published in Ma’ariv, indicated that 80 per cent were opposed to any negotiations with Adenauer’s Germany.