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LAST MINUTE VICTORY AT ZIONIST GENERAL COUNCIL FOR JEWISH AGENCY LEADERSHIP’S INITIATIVE TO MAKE CHANGES IN RECONSTITUTION AGREEMENT
On Friday, Sixty five per cent of the Zionist General Council voted in favor of Chairman Sallai Meridor, and Treasurer Chaim Chesler’s initiative to advance and strengthen the World Zionist Movement, to enable it to meet the challenges of the future. The resolution which includes changes in the reconstitution agreement, responds to the need to engage the best and most talented persons to lead the Jewish people. The final version of the proposed initiative was submitted following changes introduced in consultation with the Zionist Factions. Nevertheless, these changes did not alter the principal aim of drawing new forces into the organization. In spite of previous opposition, the majority of the delegates at the Zionist General Council supported the proposal suggesting that one third of the Jewish Agency Executive and two thirds of the Agency’s Board of Governors should be prominent figures in the Jewish World. These personalities who will be drawn from academia, finance, and the arts will be joined by heads of voluntary and Olim organizations, and senior leadership of Zionist organizations abroad. Members will be appointed in consultation with a special, six-member committee, comprised of representatives of the World Zionist Organization, the United Jewish Communities of North America, and Keren Hayessod. The resolution passed in a secret ballot and the results as following: 110 - for, 54 - against, 5 - abstained The new proposal will be submitted to the General Assembly for voting on Tuesday morning, June 26, 2001.
MERIDOR & CHESLER : NECESSITY TO HARNESS THE GREATEST JEWISH POWERS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ZIONISM "Arafat has a strategic goal in his Intifadah: to weaken our Zionist spirit . A tactical military response does not suffice to counter this goal. We must be steadfast over time, and this is an essential part of the Zionist spirit" said Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor in a major address delivered before the Zionist General Council in Jerusalem on Wednesday. According to Meridor, Zionism is the greatest success story of modern history, but we must ensure that it continues. Meridor laid down 5 objectives for the Jewish people that only the Zionist movement is capable of fulfilling: Aliyah : In order to maintain a Jewish majority, we must guarantee aliyah of 50,000 Jews every year. Since the pool of potential olim from the FSU is not infinite, the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization are now trying to encourage aliyah from other countries, for example: France, Argentina, South Africa. The Zionist movement is the only body capable of accomplishing this goal. Immigrant Absorption : We must attend to the needs of the olim and give them equal opportunity. Absorption must be carried out from a broad perspective in an effort to strengthen key areas (such as the Galilee) and populations. If we fail we have no future. Jewish Education : Jewish education is the guarantee for our people's existence. According to experts, in 50 years the number of Jews the world over will be between 12 to17 million. The critical difference depends on Jewish education. Today 50% of Jewish youngsters around the world do not receive any Jewish education. The role of the Zionist movement is to foster Jewish education worldwide. Meridor recommended introducing a norm of a year's stay in Israel after high school education is completed. 400 teachers are currently needed for the Jewish world and we are only training 40. We must be capable of fulfilling this requirement. The Centrality of Zionism in the Eyes of the Jewish People : The need for Israel's continued existence must be part of the Jewish people's agenda. It is vital for our existence and for this we need our nation's greatest powers. The proposal to amend the structure of the Jewish Agency, according to which influential personalities with no political affiliations will be appointed to the Board of Governors and the Assembly, is designed to meet this need. The Zionist Nature of the State of Israel : We cannot assume that youth in Israel have a natural awareness of Zionism. We must invest in nurturing this awareness. According to Meridor, Zionism is the success story of modern history. In order to preserve its achievements, we must recruit the best Jewish talent in the service of the Jewish people. The Zionist movement is responsible for this. The proposal submitted by Sallai Meridor and Jewish Agency Treasurer, Chaim Chesler and supported by the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Alex Grass, and the Chair of the Agency's Budget and Finance Committee, Mr. Richard Pearlstone in which influential personalities with no affiliation are appointed to the Board of Governors and the Jewish Agency Assembly, will allow JAFI to enlist the powers of the Jewish people. "The Zionist movement must rise above party interests so that Zionism, the State of Israel and the Jewish people continue to flourish in future generations." Meridor concluded. |
