June 27, 2001
6 Tammuz, 5761
JerusalemJewish Agency Solidarity Assembly Concludes Proceedings in Jerusalem with Series of Widesweeping Resolutions, Chief Among Them: Worldwide Jewish Solidarity Campign.
Bold Plan to Restructure and Agency and Introduce New Talent Unanimously Adopted
Launches $660M Ethiopian Immigrant Absorption Program. Promotes Critical Aliyah from France, Argentina and South Africa.
The Jewish Agency Assembly, meeting in Jerusalem, concluded yesterday four days of intensive proceedings in which the Jewish World’s top leadership participated. In its closing session, the Assembly passed a series of wide-sweeping resolutions, among them the immediate launching of a world-wide solidarity, information and fundraising campaign on behalf of Israel; a $660m. nine-year program together with the Government of Israel for the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants; a program for critical Aliyah from France, South Africa and Argentina; and a bold new program to restructure and strengthen the Agency by introducing leading Jewish figures without political affiliation into the top governing bodies of the Agency.
Over one thousand top Jewish leaders from throughout the world (600 from abroad) attended the Assembly proceedings in Jerusalem, which were held under the theme of Solidarity of the Jewish People with Israel. The delegates adopted a resolution initiating an immediate multi-million dollar solidarity campaign with Israel. This decision came in response to a call by Prime Minister Sharon. The special “Israel Now” campaign calls upon Jews, as individuals, and Jewish groups to visit Israel, educate communities and the general public on the justice of Israel’s cause, advocate political and moral support for Israel in the media and to governments, and to participate in the financial burden incurred by Israel as a result of the security situation. Tens of thousands of Jews from throughout the world will come to Israel on solidarity missions in the near future. World Jewish communities will organize solidarity rallies close to the High Holy Day period. The culmination of these will be a mega rally to be held in New York on September 23rd.
The Jewish Agency Assembly assigned top-priority to Aliyah and immigrant absorption.
The Assembly voted to launch a $660m. nine-year national absorption program for Ethiopian immigrants, to enable them to integrate into the mainstream of Israeli society. The Jewish communities throughout the world and the Government of Israel will be equal partners in this venture. The program, which will commence in 2002 will promote education from pre-school to university; train teachers and educators; increase employment opportunities through vocational training, job placement and follow-up; and strengthen the Ethiopian community by developing leadership, and encouraging volunteerism. The Government of Israel, the Jewish Agency, the Israeli private sector, the United Jewish Communities of North America, Keren Hayesod the Joint Distribution and the Ethiopian community will participate in this project.
Sensing the urgency for supporting Aliyah from Argentina, France and South Africa called on the Agency to allocate resources to promote and implement special immigration programs and improve absorption conditions for immigrants from these countries.
Other resolutions adopted by the Assembly addressed the crucial importance of expanding Jewish settlement in the Galilee and the Negev and developing these areas by creating educational and employment opportunities.
The most revolutionary proposal adopted by the Assembly was a bold initiative for strengthening and restructuring the Agency by reserving one third of the seats on the Agency Executive and two thirds of the slots on the Board of Governors for outstanding influential figures of the Jewish World who are not affiliated with a political party. These personalities would be drawn from academia, finance, the arts, as well as from the top leadership of volunteer organizations and of Zionist organizations abroad.
These new 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 Hayesod, (the constituent organizations of the Jewish Agency).
“The resolution will ensure that people of vision will be at the helm of the Jewish Agency to devise long-term strategies for the benefit of Israel and the Jewish People,” Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor said.
During the course of the Assembly the delegates were addressed by Prime Minister Sharon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Peres, Former Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Ben Eliezer, Minister of Education Livnat, Deputy Foreign Minister Melchior, and Opposition Leader Sarid. They engaged in debates, dialogues and workshops on Hasbarah, Aliyah, Jewish education, demographics, solidarity, and heard reports of the different Jewish Agency departments. They participated in a giant solidarity rally on Mount Scopus. Delegates also demonstrated solidarity by meeting with families of Israeli MIAs, giving blood samples to help leukemia victims, visited teenage victims of the Tel-Aviv discotheque bombing, and visited confrontation-line neighborhoods.
For further information:
Contact the Office of the Spokesman:Yehuda Weinraub
Mobile: 972-55-284805
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Fax: 972-2-6202708
Mobile: 972-51-601706