The issue of the possible closure of the autonomous non-profit organization “Jewish Agency” Sokhnut “in Russia is in the legal plane and is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice of Russia. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to TASS.
“When various levels of anti-Russian assessments were made by the Israeli leadership … and the position was framed only in a pro-Ukrainian direction … it was certainly in line with the strange and wild voice of the West, that really raised questions,” he added.
According to Zakharova, the Russian authorities regret that Israel has taken an “unconstructive and biased stance” regarding the Russian Federation, “including on the Ukrainian issue”.
At the end of July, the Moscow Basmanny Court will consider the petition of the Moscow Department of the Russian Ministry of Justice to close down the Sokhnut agency, which deals with the repatriation of Jews to Israel. In addition, the Moscow Ministry of Justice proposes to remove Sokhnut from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (EGRLE). “The hearing of this case has been scheduled by the judge for July 28,” the court’s press service told Interfax. According to him, the allegations of the Ministry of Justice relate to the violation of Russian legislation by Sokhnut during his activities.
A reporter for Keshet 12, one of Israel’s largest commercial television channels, told socialbites.ca, on condition of anonymity, that the reasons for the situation around Sokhnut in the country were primarily fears over the Kremlin’s “brain drain”. Russia, and the second – the deterioration of Russian-Israeli relations after the visit of US President Joe Biden to Israel and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Iran.
The source also added that new Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid is more “pro-Ukrainian” than the previous head of government, Naftali Bennett.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said on July 22 that the emerging situation had nothing to do with the “brain drain”.
“No, it’s not about brain drain, it’s about complying with Russian law,” a Kremlin spokesperson told reporters. He also forwarded the question to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Earlier, Israeli television channel Reshet 13 reported that Sokhnut was suspected of organizing a brain drain, and “a letter from the Russian authorities to Israel” was at the disposal of the media. The document stated that the agency primarily organized the repatriation of Russian citizens of Jewish origin who were engaged in business and science.
The Israeli journalist also told Gazeta.ru that there is a debate in the media about whether the Jewish Agency “Sohnut” is relevant today, “because people can only get on a plane.” [и прилететь в Израиль]”.
“But I think [«Сохнут» важен]because they help with paperwork – and now people are afraid that documents cannot be arranged and separated correctly, ”the source added.
On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that relations with Russia are important for his country, but that the closure of the Sokhnut agency’s offices in Russia would be a serious event that would affect relations between the two countries.
The Israeli authorities decided to send a government commission to Russia. However, it was claimed that the members of the delegation were not given a Russian visa.
Lapid then instructed the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a series of “political measures”. Former Israeli Ambassador to Moscow, Zvi Magen, noted that the Jewish state could cease to be neutral in the Ukrainian conflict and even participate in Western sanctions against the Russian Federation.
socialbites.ca requested an official comment from the Sokhnut agency, but the material had not yet been provided at the time of publication.