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JEWISH AGENCY CHAIRMAN : 35,000 NEW IMMIGRANTS SINCE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE ZIONIST GENERAL COUNCIL CONVENED IN SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL. 300 SENIOR ZIONIST LEADERS TOURED NEGEV AND GAZA CONFRONTATION LINE. "35,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the outbreak of violence", reported Sallai Meridor, chairman of the Zionist Executive and Jewish Agency. Meridor was speaking this week at the opening session of the Zionist General Council that met at Kibbutz Dorot in the western Negev. "This is the Jewish people's response to the threats facing us", he said. The opening session was held at Kibbutz Dorot rather than in Jerusalem as a salute to the communities in the Negev and confrontation line. During the meeting, Meridor revealed that despite the Intifadah, 5,000 adults had come on solidarity visits to Israel and a further 20,000 youngsters have come to Israel for long and short-term study programs this year. In the course of the day, the delegates toured the confrontation line and gained a first-hand impression of the achievements in the western Negev in the areas of immigrant absorption, education, agriculture, hi-tech and quality of life. Dr. Yitzhak Chen, chairman of the Zionist General Council presided over the opening session, which was addressed by JAFI treasurer Chaim Chesler, Chairman of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council Shai Hermesh, mayor of Sderot Advocate Eli Moyal, and Sallai Meridor. During the evening, the delegates enjoyed a rich artistic program that included appearances by troupes, singing groups, youth and adult orchestras from the area. 300 prominent World Zionist leaders, mostly from overseas, attended this year's Zionist General Council. They included representatives of organizations and various streams of Judaism. During the remainder of the week the Zionist General Council conducted its deliberations at Jerusalem's Hyatt Regency Hotel. The agenda included issues such as: integrating youth, students and young leadership in the activities of the Zionist movement; a proposal to amend the structure of the Jewish Agency (aimed at strengthening the Zionist movement and the Jewish Agency by keeping a place on the Board of Governors and at Jewish Agency Assembly for influential personalities in the Jewish world, who are not identified with a political body); aliyah as a guarantee for the existence of the Jewish people; the Hebrew language; the Zionist vision and ideology (in preparation for the 34th Zionist Congress, which will convene in 2002). The Zionist General Council is comprised of 232 delegates and meets annually. It is the supreme legislative body of the World Zionist Organization for the period between sessions of the Zionist Congress, which convenes once every four years. The Zionist General Council delegates form 50% of the Jewish Agency Assembly, which will convene in Jerusalem immediately following the Zionist General Council on Saturday night. 1000 Jewish leaders will participate in solidarity. |
