Israeli official decries Jewish Agency row with Russia
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An Israeli official tells Yedioth Ahronoth about what "Tel Aviv" might do if Russia closes the Jewish Agency's offices.
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Jewish Agency for Israel headquarters in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, August 3, 2007
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.
"We are in a battle here. This is not about the shutting down of a McDonald's," the official told Yedioth Ahronoth. "The agency being closed down under legal pretexts is a political issue - we will not remain silent."
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said earlier today that Russia's decision to shut down an agency that processes Jewish immigration to "Israel" is a "serious event" that will impact bilateral ties.
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.
"In Israel, there are fears that the Russian justice ministry's investigation will lead to the agency's declaration as a foreign agent and, as a consequence, to the cessation of its Russian activity in the field of Jewish migration to Israel," Walla! 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.
