andriano_cz/Getty Images Russia’s Justice Ministry filed a lawsuit on July 21 officially calling for the Jewish Agency to be dissolved.
Earlier in July, the ministry issued a series of demands to the agency that would reportedly be difficult for the agency to follow; The Jerusalem Post has reported that the Russian ministry is alleging that the agency unlawfully collected personal data on Russian citizens, though the Post noted that it’s not unusual for organizations like the agency to “collect information about people who apply for aliyah or who participate in their activities.”
Israel will be sending a delegation to Moscow next week in response to Russia’s escalation on the matter, The Times of Israel reported.
“The Jewish community in Russia is deeply connected to Israel and its importance comes up in every diplomatic conversation with the Russian leadership,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement. “We will continue to act through diplomatic channels so the important work of the Jewish Agency is not impeded.”
Stop Antisemitism tweeted that there are around “half a million” Jews in Russia, and dissolving the agency “will hold Russia’s Jewish population hostage.” “This is a calculated move by Putin, retaliation for Israel’s stance on the Ukraine War,” Stop Antisemitism added. “Pogroms and horrifying antisemitism has been at the root of Russian, Russian Empire, and the former Soviet Union) society for hundreds of years. A true system of apartheid was in place, with the amount of Jews allowed to study in Universities, work in certain fields, live in certain areas put under severely limited quotas. Thankfully the Jewish Agency has successfully rescued approx. 1 million Jews from the former Soviet Union in the 20th century.”
THREAD – Russia's war on Jews
Russian officials move to shut down the Jewish Agency (which facilitates immigration to Israel). The number of Jews in Russia is estimated to be approx. half a million.
The move will hold Russia's Jewish population hostage.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 21, 2022
This is a calculated move by Putin, clear retaliation for Israel's stance on the Ukraine War.
Pogroms & horrifying antisemitism has been at the root of the Russian Empire and former Soviet Union for hundreds of years.
A true system of apartheid was in place, with the amount of
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 21, 2022
Jews allowed to study in Universities, work in certain fields, live in certain areas put under severely limited quotas.
Thankfully the Jewish Agency has successfully rescued approx. 1 million Jews from the former Soviet Union in the 20th century.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 21, 2022
The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “The world will learn soon if Russia defaults to its Soviet Era anti-Israel and #Antisemitic policies. We can only hope that isn’t where the Russian government is heading.”
The world will learn soon if Russia defaults to its Soviet Era anti-Israel and #Antisemitic policies. We can only hope that isn't where the Russian government is heading. https://t.co/P7O3GaKXB2
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) July 21, 2022
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