Israel Delegation to Head to Moscow Amid Jewish Agency Dispute
by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes a statement at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, July 10, 2022. Maya Alleruzzo/Pool via REUTERS
An Israeli delegation will travel to Moscow on Wednesday to hold talks with officials, Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s office said, amid a dispute over the activities in Russia of an agency that helps Jews move to Israel.
Russia’s justice ministry is seeking the liquidation of the Russian branch of the non-profit Jewish Agency. Authorities have alleged it has breached privacy laws and are expected to present more details in a Russian court on Thursday.
The case has stirred worries in Israel about a crisis with Russia, which is home to a large Jewish community and wields clout in next-door Syria.
“In coordination with the authorities in Russia, the Israeli delegation will leave for Moscow this evening and hold meetings with the relevant parties in the Russian system,” said a statement from Lapid’s office.
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Some 600,000 Russians are eligible to emigrate to Israel. Officials have said there has been a rise in applications since the dispute arose over the Jewish Agency, which is based in Jerusalem and is the world’s largest Jewish non-profit organization.
Lapid has said a closing of its Russia branch would be a “serious event that would affect relations” between the two countries.
