Russia reported to have ordered shutdown of Jewish Agency work

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Russia has reportedly ordered the Jewish Agency to stop all work in the country, the Jerusalem Post stated in an exclusive piece on July 5. The Jewish Agency is vitally important in helping Jews from all over the world to immigrate to Israel – a right that is necessary, especially in light of anti-Semitic persecution.

While Russian officials have so far denied the report, an order shutting down the Jewish Agency would come at a time of heightened tension between Russia and Israel over the latter’s support for Ukraine in the ongoing war there. According to information received by the Jerusalem Post, the order for the work of the Jewish Agency to cease was given by the Russian Justice Ministry.

Responding to the report, Israel’s Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata said in a statement: “I was updated this morning regarding the decision of the Russian Ministry of Justice. As is well known, the Jewish Agency is a central arm of the government and the [Aliyah and Integration] Ministry for the assistance of the immigration of Jews from all over the world to the State of Israel.”

“We must ensure that their scope of operation is maintained as it has been throughout the years. I appealed to the prime minister to work with the Moscow administration to resolve the problem, and I want to strengthen the Jewish community in Russia, which must be worried at this time about the consequences of the decision. Aliyah is a basic right for the Jews of Russia, and we will make sure that it is preserved as such,” Tamano-Shata said.

However, the Jerusalem Post said, the Russian media outlet RBC quoted Russian Jewish Congress president Yuri Kanner as saying the report was “speculation.” RBC also added in a website statement: “The Jewish Agency for Israel will continue to work in Russia in accordance with the law.”

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