Lapid: Russia’s closure of Jewish Agency is a ‘grave event’

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid yesterday warned that Moscow’s closure of the Jewish Agency’s offices in Russia would be “grave event” that would negatively affect diplomatic ties.

Last week, the Russian Justice Ministry officially called for the “dissolution” of the Jewish Agency’s activities in the country saying it had violated a number of local laws.

As a result, an Israeli Foreign Ministry delegation was tasked with traveling to Moscow in an attempt to remedy the situation.

A statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office reported that Lapid said “ties with Russia are important to Israel.”

“The Jewish community in Russia is large and important and comes up in every diplomatic discussion with the administration in Moscow,” the statement added.

“Closing the Jewish Agency’s offices would be a grave event, which will have consequences on those ties.”

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