Begin has narrow escape in vote on clearing Sinai

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin's government, under attack for its handling of the evacuation of the Sinai, narrowly survived an opposition motion of no-confidence in the Knesset (parliament) Tuesday.

The motion, defeated 55 to 52, followed a government setback when the Knesset adopted an opposition resolution criticizing the huge amount of compensation to be paid Jewish settlers ordered out of the Sinai Peninsula.

Under the Camp David agreements, the last portion of the Israeli-occupied Sinai is to be returned to Egypt April 26. Jewish settlers forced to evacauate are to receive $300 million in compensation.

Mr. Begin has been criticized on all sides for offering such a high scale of compensation to the settlers.