READ FULL TEXT: The Jewish Agency Resolution on the Western Wall Crisis
'The Government of Israel's decisions have a deep potential to divide the Jewish people and to undermine the Zionist vision'
The following is the full unedited text of the Jewish Agency for Israel's Board of Governors resolution on Israel's decision to freeze the implementation of a plan to see a new, non-Orthodox prayer space set up at the Western Wall, and a new law on conversions, that have both angered U.S. Jews and the American Jewish establishment:
- 'Underhanded and sneaky': Israeli lawmaker demands investigation after Netanyahu backtracks on Western Wall
- Outraged at Netanyahu over Western Wall, Jewish Agency to rethink ties with Israeli government
- Jewish Agency cancels dinner with Netanyahu in protest of Western Wall egalitarian prayer space freeze
Whereas the Jewish Agency for Israel, representing world Jewry through its constituent members, the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod, is gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the liberation of the Western Wall and the founding of the Zionist movement in Basel 120 years ago; and
Whereas the Jewish Agency for Israel throughout its history has been the organization responsible for bringing olim to the State of Israel and connecting Israel and world Jewry; and
Whereas the proposed conversion bill that would cement the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly on conversion has the devastating potential to permanently exclude hundreds of thousands of Israelis from being a part of the Jewish people; and
Whereas we deplore yesterday's decision by Government of Israel which contradicts the agreement reached with the Jewish Agency and other parties to establish the Kotel as a unifying symbol for Jews around the world, as stated: 'ONE WALL FOR ONE PEOPLE'; and
Whereas the Government of Israel's decisions have a deep potential to divide the Jewish people and to undermine the Zionist vision and dream of Herzl, Ben-Gurion, and Jabotinsky to establish Israel as a national home for the entire Jewish people; and
Whereas we declare that we cannot and must not allow this to happen and we are committed to mobilizing our constituencies for their continued support of the people and state of Israel;
Therefore, be it resolved that
We call upon each Member of the Knesset and all elected public officials to take all necessary action to ensure that these dangerous and damaging steps are halted; and
We will continue to build a broad coalition of Israelis, together with partners from around the world, who care passionately about keeping our people united and who are committed to the unity of the Jewish people; and
We call upon the Government of Israel to understand the gravity of its steps and reverse its course of action accordingly.
Natan Sharansky
Chair of the Executive
Charles Horowitz Ratner
Chair of the Board
Michael Siegal
Chair Elect of the Board