JEWISH AGENCY ASSEMBLY CLOSES IN JERUSALEM; DECISIONS CENTER ON SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN BY WORLD JEWRY WITH ISRAEL; UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION TO ADD PUBLIC FIGURES TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS   OTHER DECISIONS: LAUNCHING OF NATIONAL PROJECT FOR ABSORPTION OF ETHIOPIAN OLIM IN COOPERATION WITH JEWISH COMMUNITIES AND ISRAELI GOVERNMENT; PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE ALIYAH FROM FRANCE, ARGENTINA AND SOUTH AFRICA Jewish Agency leaders cut a cake at the farewell party for Daniel Liwerant from Mexico, the outgoing World Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Keren Hayesod. He will be succeeded by Harvey Wolfe from Canada. From left to right: Richard Pearlstone, Chairman Jewish Agency Budget and Finance Committee; Sallai Meridor, Chairman Jewish Agency Executive; Michal Modai, President of World Wizo and Co-Chair Jewish Agency Assembly Planning Committee; and Chaim Chesler, Jewish Agency Treasurer (photo: Joe Malcolm) The Jewish Agency General Assembly, attended by more than 1,000 Jewish leaders from all over the world, closed yesterday in Jerusalem. It was decided to launch a wide-ranging solidarity campaign with Israel among Jewish communities, including a special campaign, to strengthen Public Relations and Information and visits to Israel. Over the next few months tens of thousands of Jews will visit Israel on solidarity missions. At the same time solidarity rallies will be organized all over the world, culminating in a rally in New York on September 23rd. The Assembly called on all Jewish families throughout the world to give on behalf of Israel and make visits to Israel. On another issue, it was decided to institute a national project for the absorption of Ethiopian olim, financed jointly by the Jewish communities and the Israeli government. The national project, worth $660 million, will begin operating in 2002 for 9 years and will be run jointly by the Israeli government, the Jewish Agency, the private sector in Israel, the United Jewish Communities of North America, Keren Hayesod and the JDC. It will focus on three key areas: education - from pre-school through university as well as training teachers and educators; employment - providing opportunities through professional training, placement and assistance; strengthening the Ethiopian community by developing leadership, responsibility and volunteer work. The Jewish Agency Assembly approved the proposal to consolidate and implement a special program to encourage aliyah from France, South Africa and Argentina, in conjunction with the Israeli government and representatives of the Jewish communities, in an effort to considerably improve absorption conditions. The proposal by Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and Treasurer Chaim Chesler to replace two-thirds of the JAFI Board of Governors and a third of the Jewish Agency Executive, was passed unanimously. According to this plan, Jewish public figures from the economic, academic and arts world who have no political affiliation, will be brought in to replace political figures. The decision is designed to respond to the need to recruit the best possible forces and talents to lead the Jewish people.

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