Kommersant: New issues surface between Russia, 'Israel'

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A new issue came to life between Russia and the Israeli occupation, as the latter claims that the Russian Ministry of Justice asked several demands of the Jewish Agency (Sokhnut) whose fulfillment would make it difficult for the organization to operate in Russia.

For the issue to be solved, Moscow and "Tel Aviv" might have to diplomatically interfere directly amid a period of soaring tensions between the two over the Israeli occupation's support of Ukraine.

The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday that the Jewish Agency had been instructed by the Russian government to stop all operations inside the nation.

The Russian government stated the directive in a letter sent earlier in the week, which was received by the Jewish Agency. However, the agency's representatives declined to comment on their planned response presently being jointly discussed in its headquarters in occupied Al-Quds with the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.

Sokhnut said they were constantly in contact with the Russian authorities to ensure that their activities comply with the rules of work on Russian soil, and the organization's representative office in Russia is registered as a Russian non-profit organization.

The high-level diplomatic intervention may have already started, as Israeli "Aliyah" and Integration Minister Pnina Tameno Shete sent a letter to Prime Minister Yair Lapid asking him to work with Moscow on the issue. She informed Lapid that the Jewish Agency's representatives in Russia had notified her that they were told they had to immediately stop their activities on Russian soil.

"I urge you to intervene urgently in order to continue the activities of the Jewish Agency in Russia and not harm the ongoing immigration," the letter read.

"Aliyah" is the "right" of foreign Jews to immigrate to occupied Palestine under the auspices of the Israeli occupation government. Many of them have completed the necessary paperwork for immigration and have been waiting for flights to occupied Palestine, but due to the sanctions on Russia, most foreign airlines have stopped flying there, as described by Israeli officials.

Tameno Shete highlighted in her letter the Jewish Agency's role in terms of immigration to occupied Palestine, noting that more than 21,000 Russian Jews immigrated last year, in addition to the 30,000 that immigrated from Russia and Ukraine over the past few months.

Sokhnut declined a request by Kommersant to comment, but the head office in occupied Al-Quds clarified that there were no demands for the agency to put an end to its activities in Russia.

"I'm afraid JPost jumped to conclusions. We are currently studying the letter and cannot make any further statements," a spokesperson for the Sokhnut head office in occupied Al-Quds told Kommersant.

The spokesperson further explained that there were also no requirements for a temporary cessation of activities. However, in an interview with the Times of Israel, he explained that the organization received a letter from the Russian Ministry of Justice that contained several requirements the Jewish Agency found difficult to fulfill.

Promoting and facilitating "aliyah" for Jewish communities around 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 occupation and Russia have many disagreements, such as the illegal Israeli airstrikes on Syria as attempts to increase the warning time ahead of attacks continued to fail.

In addition to the Sokhnut issue between "Israel" and Russia, a dual-citizen Israeli-Ukrainian by the name of Vladimir Kozlovsky was captured in the Lugansk People's Republic as he was fighting among the mercenaries siding with Ukraine. It is evident that his release will not take place easily in light of the lack of trust between "Israel" and Russia.