Russia has ordered the Jewish Agency to halt all operations in the country amid rising tensions between Moscow and Jerusalem over the war in Ukraine and airstrikes attributed to Israel in Syria.
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Senior Jewish Agency officials said the matter was under review after a letter was received from the Russian government earlier this week, and that it wasn't immediately clear what practical steps the Russians intend to implement.
"As part of the work of the Jewish Agency's delegation in Russia, we are occasionally required to make certain adjustments, as required by authorities," the Jewish Agency said.
"Discussions with the authorities are ongoing with the aim of continuing our activities in accordance with the rules. Even now, there is a dialogue," the statement continued.
According to the Russian justice ministry, the Jewish Agency is collecting, saving, and transferring information on Russians, which is illegal and therefore should be shut down.
The Jewish Agency's Jerusalem headquarters is considering its response in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry, which said it was "studying the details of the affair, is in contact with the Jewish Agency headquarters in Jerusalem, and will act as necessary to assist the Jewish Agency."
Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata said: "I was appraised [Tuesday morning] of the Russian justice ministry's decision. The Jewish Agency is a central arm of the government for bringing Jews from across the globe to Israel, and we must make sure it maintains its ability to operate, as it has for years. Aliyah is a basic right of Russian Jewry."
The dramatic move comes during a time of increasing tensions over Jerusalem's position on Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, with the latest example on Monday when Russia's Foreign Ministry called Israel's airstrikes in Syria "irresponsible" and demanded an unconditional cessation of the attacks.
Thus far, Israel has refused to send weapons to Ukraine or join international sanctions against Moscow, but it has voted in the UN to condemn the invasion.
The Jewish Agency, which has operated in Russia and the Soviet Union since the late Communist era, promotes and facilitates aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) and the order could impact thousands of Russian Jews waiting to move to the Jewish state.
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