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European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor (Uriah Tadmor / Jini)
Last update - 22:54 29/01/2008
European Jewish leader: World Jews should have say in Israeli politics
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: European Jewish congress, WJC 

Israel should grant all of world Jewry the right to vote even on
political issues, the president of the European Jewish Congress, Moshe Kantor, demanded on Monday.

Kantor spoke during the meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Monday in Jerusalem. The question of the right of world Jewry to take part in the discussion over the future of Jerusalem was the major topic being discussed behind the scenes at the meetings.
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"Israel's leadership should recognize that all the Jews in the world have the right to vote in Israel elections," Kantor told Haaretz. "If anyone with at least one Jewish grandfather or grandmother has the right to make Aliyah within the framework of the Law of Return, then we need to grant them equal rights," said Kantor.

The issue of world Jewry's involvement in Israeli politics, and in particular the issue of talks over the future of Jerusalem was not discussed officially, despite efforts of representatives of right wing parties to pass a resolution calling on the government of Israel not to divide Jerusalem.

The traditional WJC policy of not taking sides on Israeli political matters held, and only a declarative resolution calling on Jewish communities around the world to support Jerusalem passed. The WJC, at least in its own eyes is the most important Jewish organization in the world.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert canceled his appearance before the WJC after WJC president Ron Lauder published a letter three weeks ago calling on Olmert to take into account world Jewish opinion on Jerusalem.

President Shimon Peres did appear at the meetings, as did Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and Lauder's friend, the head of the opposition Benjamin Netanyahu.

Related articles:
  • World Jewish leaders gear up to block division of Jerusalem
  • Olmert snubs WJC after Lauder's open letter on Jerusalem
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      1.   Stupidest thing I`ve ever heard suggested 22:28  |  McQueen 29/01/08
      2.   Right to vote 22:29  |  Edifice 29/01/08
      3.   I disagree 22:29  |  J K 29/01/08
      4.   Vote 22:31  |  Dr Nat 29/01/08
      5.   Great Idea... 22:33  |  Alex 29/01/08
      6.   RIGHT TO VOTE? RIGHT TO SHUT UP! 22:39  |  patrick hammel 29/01/08
      7.   world Jewry voting in Israel`s elections 22:49  |  Steve G 29/01/08
      8.   Moshe Kantor is a moron 22:53  |  rich 29/01/08
      9.   Right to vote 22:56  |  Jonathan 29/01/08
      10.   The priviledge to vote 23:02  |  AliciaYasmeen 29/01/08
      11.   Pass the butter, just don`t force me to milk the cow 23:08  |  Gilles 29/01/08
      12.   Universal Jewish Suffrage 23:12  |  Liam 29/01/08
      13.   If you want to vote, serve in the army 23:17  |  Gili 29/01/08
      14.   Is it a Jewish state or just a state? 23:19  |  Giora 29/01/08
      15.   Moshe Kantor, does have a point. 23:29  |  Maureen Ann 29/01/08
      16.   A few things about this idea... 23:29  |  Avi 29/01/08
      17.   Say in Israel 23:33  |  Jack 29/01/08
      18.   partially agree 23:45  |  Jer 29/01/08
      19.   kantor the moron 23:45  |  aj 29/01/08
      20.   Outrageous. If you want to control our destiny then... 23:56  |  bat yam 29/01/08
      21.   say on Israel 00:01  |  ralph 30/01/08
      22.   "No taxation without representation" & no representation without 00:03  |  Pssd off American 30/01/08
      23.   IDIOTS OF THE WORLD UNITE 00:04  |  NEIL GOLAN 30/01/08
      24.   SOMETHING TO SAY? 00:06  |  NEIL 30/01/08
      25.   It`s not just Jews who live in Jerusalem.. 00:10  |  Don Camillo 30/01/08
      26.   NOT AN ISSUE 00:13  |  MOSHE PIPICK 30/01/08
      27.   SHARANSKYSAYS THE SAME. LET`S RUSSIAN OLIGARCH ON PUTIN ORDER CON 00:15  |  SERAFIM 30/01/08
      28.   McQueen #1 00:16  |  schafe82 30/01/08
      29.   #12 where do you get your news?! So ignorant! 00:16  |  McQueen 30/01/08
      30.   Jews should have say in Israeli politics 00:24  |  Roberto Floh 30/01/08
      31.   Whether diaspora should have legal say in Israeli politics 00:26  |  Kapplan 30/01/08
      32.   Stupid idea 00:27  |  Darmoni 30/01/08
      33.   NO 00:31  |  Stranger 30/01/08
      34.   if we use our right to return we will have the right to say 00:31  |  Mike 30/01/08
      35.   IT`S A GOOD IDEA, THIS WAY JEWISH MJORITY IS 100% 00:31  |  20x20 30/01/08
      36.   Go to the Army then you can vote 00:38  |  David 30/01/08
      37.   Earth calling Maureen Ann 00:49  |  Gilles 30/01/08
      38.   12 Maureen Ann 00:49  |  leo 30/01/08
      39.   Not all Jews are concerned with Jerusalem-Al Quds 01:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 30/01/08
      40.   Diaspora votes 01:12  |  Dan 30/01/08
      41.   No personal # no vote! 01:14  |  Ari 30/01/08
      42.   Maureen, I am not sure I follow you 01:19  |  Avi 30/01/08
      43.   not the dumbest thing to say 01:46  |  solal 30/01/08
      44.   RE:#11 -- Jewish state 01:55  |  Vladimir 30/01/08
      45.   Jerusalem belongs to the entire Jewish People. 02:01  |  Part-owner 30/01/08
      46.   The question is not whether World Jewry.. 02:04  |  James a gentile 30/01/08
      47.   jewish registration 02:14  |  tina 30/01/08
      48.   What next 02:18  |  Jack 30/01/08
      49.   Why not?? 02:40  |  Kim 30/01/08
      50.   i love the galut as much as i love israel, but no.... 02:50  |  yonatan 30/01/08
      51.   #36 David A good try! 03:04  |  Giora 30/01/08
      52.   Do not even publish this subject!! 03:07  |  Neil Golan 30/01/08
      53.   BOYCOTT STUPID ARTICLE 03:11  |  NEIL GOLAN 30/01/08
      54.   I have a much better idea! 03:16  |  JJ 30/01/08
      55.   Right of Return 03:19  |  Ariel 30/01/08
      56.   #45 -Part owner - How about your partners? 03:19  |  GPS 30/01/08
      57.   To: Yaakov Sullivan, Christs are not jews. 03:23  |  Like it is 30/01/08
      58.   Dumb idea 03:26  |  Theodor 30/01/08
      59.   Of course he is right 03:50  |  Johnboy 30/01/08
      60.   #49 Ultra Othrodox should not get an Army exemption 04:23  |  David 30/01/08
      61.   Make sure to let "Jews for Jesus" vote too! 04:34  |  David 30/01/08
      62.   Moshe Pipick (Post No. 26) 05:10  |  Johnny Weintraub 30/01/08
      63.   You`ll be welcomed with open arms. 05:37  |  Mathew S 30/01/08
      64.   world Jews should have say in Israeli politics 05:51  |  Roy Susman 30/01/08
      65.   never thougth about it before but 06:45  |  abe 30/01/08
      66.   Roy Zusman 06:54  |  sWeis Melbourne 30/01/08
      67.   As an American Jew I dissagree 07:00  |  David G 30/01/08
      68.   stupid guy 07:13  |  Weinstein 30/01/08
      69.   This is about rabbinical control 07:20  |  Rowan Berkeley 30/01/08
      70.   25 Don Camillo 08:14  |  ron 30/01/08
      71.   I agree with Kantor 08:30  |  David 30/01/08
      72.   EUROPEAN jEWISH leader:World Jews should have say in Israeli poli 08:32  |  Martin List, M.D. 30/01/08