'Israel' to clash with Russia over Jewish Agency: Israeli media
Israeli media reports that tensions between Russia and the Israeli occupation are on the rise over the closure of the Jewish Agency's offices in Moscow.
Tensions are on the rise between "Tel Aviv" and Moscow over Russia's closure of the "Jewish Agency for Israel's" work in the country, Israeli media reported on Monday.
"It is too early to speak of an explosion in the relations between Israel and Russia," Israeli media said. "The common understanding in Israel is that they are on the path to collide with Moscow."
"Israel and Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who loves being against Russian President Vladimir Putin and believes this is good for him in the eyes of the West and the United States, turned the issue into a public policy issue," Israeli Channel 13 political affairs correspondent Moriah Wahlberg said.
"During a secret meeting, Lapid also asked for a bundle of political tools against Russia," Wahlberg revealed. "It is likely that Putin is not only angry with Lapid's statements, but rather the Israeli aid to Ukraine and the Israeli airstrikes in Syria."
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that "the issue of the Jewish Agency is a kind of a yellow card, not only because of the war in Ukraine but also because of the Israeli operations in Syria."
Russia could obstruct 'Israel' in Syria
The Israeli occupation is preparing for the possibility of Russia obstructing "Israel's freedom of action in Syria in light of the dissolution of the Jewish Agency," Israeli Channel 12 correspondent Yaron Ephraim said.
A senior Israeli official commented on Russia's decision to shut down its offices in the country by berating the decision and calling for the summoning of "Tel Aviv's" ambassador to Moscow, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
"If the agency's offices have been truly closed, the Israeli ambassador must be summoned from Moscow for consultations," the official said, as reported by Israeli media.
Earlier this week, a Moscow court said that the justice ministry had requested the "dissolution" of the Jewish Agency for legal violations that were not specified, setting a hearing on July 28.
Just hours earlier, the Israeli occupation's Ambassador to Moscow met with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and asked for updates on the Russian Justice Ministry's probe into the Jewish Agency (Sokhnut), Israeli newspaper Walla! reported on Wednesday.
The top Russian diplomat clarified that the investigation was not a political move against the occupation. However, Israeli officials fear that it might be a sign of Moscow's dissatisfaction with "Tel Aviv's" foreign policy toward Ukraine, Israeli media said.
Promoting and facilitating "aliyah" from Jewish communities across the world is one of the primary objectives of the Jewish Agency. If it cannot operate there, it will be the first time in the last 30 years that "aliyah" attempts have been prohibited in Russia.
The Israeli Integration Minister said briefly that "aliyah" was a "Jewish right" and that it must be preserved. The minister said that they are worried about the consequences of the Russian decision and that they hope to work a solution out with Moscow.
Relations between "Israel" and Russia have witnessed tension in recent months, as the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi, over a statement by Yair Lapid when he was foreign minister in April, when he condemned Russia's practices in Ukraine, describing them as "war crimes".