Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., June 26, 2008 Sivan 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israel-Diaspora relations in the post-Olmert era: Uncertainty abounds By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: israel, jewish agency  Two days after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's "paradigm changing" speech on the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, members of the Jewish Agency board of governors were still unsure how the new direction would actually manifest itself, whether the agency would have sufficient funding, and more to the point, what its are chances if Olmert's days as prime minister are numbered. Olmert's keynote address on Sunday envisaged a future in which Israel ceases to be simply the beneficiary of the Diaspora's philanthropy, and becomes a partner, helping Jewish communities around the world preserve their identity and improve Jewish education. The following day, the coordinating committee between the government and the Jewish Agency met for its periodical conference and decided upon forming a steering committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ovad Yehezkel and Jewish Agency Education Department head Alan Hoffman, with the participation of representatives of government departments, major Jewish organizations and communities, to formulate a working plan to encourage Jewish identity and connection with Israel. The plan is to be presented in eight months, but while members of the board of governors were queuing up to pay tribute to Olmert and his speech, some more experienced Jewish Agency veterans were less complimentary off-record. "The speech and the idea behind it are both wonderful," said one of them, "but it will take at least an extra NIS 500 million per year and I don't believe that the treasury will come up with the money, with Olmert in his current political situation." Advertisement Which leads to the other obstacle: Who will carry out Olmert's vision if he - as is now expected - is forced out of the premiership in the coming days. "No one asked that question during the coordinating committee meeting," said a senior Jewish Agency official, "but it was in the air. I hope that the steering committee will be strong enough to continue its work even after Olmert goes." One suggestion made unofficially at the board of governors was to get the opposition on board. "If this is really a project of the entire Jewish people, in Israel and the Diaspora, then it shouldn't be the preserve only of the coalition. If they want this to work, they should involve Benjamin Netanyahu now, to ensure that he continues to support it if he becomes prime minister," said another senior Jewish Agency official. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bridging the gap A flashy addition to Jerusalem's entrance merges the old and the new. Two years later Captive soldiers' families lash out during ceremony marking Shalit's kidnapping.   1.   To Jewish Agency: Do the country a favour and follow Olmert out 01:05  |  Right On 26/06/08

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