Moscow intends to prosecute the Jewish Agency on its territory and expects to close it permanently
Israeli media revealed this evening, Russia’s intention to prosecute the Jewish Agency in Moscow, after it was accused of violating laws by collecting citizens’ information.
The Israeli, Israel Hayom newspaper, said, “Russia intends to prosecute the Jewish Agency after the Russian Ministry of Justice accused it of violating the law by collecting citizens’ information”.
And Israel Hayom added, “If the Jewish Agency is found guilty, it may lose its right to operate in the country and be forced to close its offices”, according to what was reported by the Acre website for Israeli affairs.
The Israel Hayom newspaper pointed out that earlier, Israel asked Russia to postpone the court session to have time to reach an agreement, as it believed that the issue could be settled through negotiations.
Some politicians have expressed concern that Russia might retaliate against criticism of Israel for its invasion of Ukraine, and about the impact that bilateral tensions might have on Russia’s Jewish community, according to the newspaper.
Following a conversation last week between Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Israeli officials told the media that Putin reassured his counterpart that “the Jewish Agency is a purely legal matter and not a way to punish Israel for its increased support for Ukraine”.
Israel sent a legal delegation to Russia this week in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but there was little expectation that the court would not allow the case to proceed.
Officials in Israel are working on the assumption that the decision to proceed with the trial was in fact taken by high levels of the Russian government and not by the presiding judge.
