'Shuttering Jewish Agency ops in Russia could have serious impact on diplomatic relations,' PM warns

Prime Minister Yair Lapid cautioned Sunday that shuttering the Jewish Agency's offices in Russia could have "a serious impact" on diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Moscow.

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An Israeli delegation will head to Russia on Sunday afternoon in hopes of halting a Russian order to cease the operations of the Jewish Agency in the country.

An official with the Moscow District Court was quoted Thursday as saying that Russia's Justice Ministry aims to "shut down" the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency. A court hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 28.

The Jewish Agency is a nonprofit that works closely with the Israeli government to bring Jewish immigrants from around the world to Israel. The Jewish Agency has been active in Russia since 1989, and has helped over 1 million immigrants from the former Soviet Union make aliyah over the years. It is estimated that 150,000 Jews still live in Russia.

Lapid instructed the delegation, comprising primarily jurists, to be ready to leave for Moscow as soon as the Russian approval for the talks is received. Officials are to spare no effort to exhaust the legal dialogue, while at the same time continue to promote diplomatic dialogue on the issue, the Prime Minister's office said.

Several ministers will also join the delegation, including Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Elkin. Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office Naama Schultz, Foreign Ministry chief Alon Ushpiz, head of the Foreign Ministry's Eurasia Division Gary Koren will also travel with the delegation, as will Jewish Agency Chairman Yaakov Hagoel and CEO Amira Ahronoviz.

While it is unknown why the Kremlin has decided to target the Jewish Agency at this time, Jerusalem officials believe the allegations the agency faces have no legal standing, rather the matter is more diplomatic in nature, and therefore only behind-the-scenes diplomatic talks could resolve it.