Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid warned on Sunday that the shuttering of the Jewish Agency’s offices in Russia could have “a serious impact” on diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Moscow.
An Israeli delegation was set to head to Russia on Sunday in hopes of halting a Russian order to cease the Agency’s operations in the country.
Lapid instructed the delegation, comprising primarily jurists, to be ready to leave for Moscow as soon as Russian approval for the talks is received. Officials were instructed to spare no effort to exhaust the legal dialogue, while at the same time continue to promote diplomatic dialogue on the issue, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Several ministers will also join the delegation, including Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Housing and Construction Minister Ze’ev Elkin. Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office Naama Schultz, Foreign Ministry chief Alon Ushpiz and the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Eurasia Division Gary Koren will also travel with the delegation, as will Jewish Agency Chairman Yaakov Hagoel and CEO Amira Ahronoviz.
This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.