Criticizing The War In Ukraine To Promote Immigration To Israel, Russia Will Disband Branch Of Jewish Organizations

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Victorgrigas)

JAKARTA - Russia's Ministry of Justice has requested the liquidation of the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency, a non-profit organization that promotes immigration to Israel, according to a Moscow court.

The Basmanny District court's website said the ministry submitted the request on July 15 and it would be discussed on July 28. There is no reason to launch the case.

The action against the Jerusalem-based body, the world's largest Jewish nonprofit, follows criticism by Israel of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid while still serving as foreign minister, accused Russia of war crimes in April. Moscow itself has repeatedly denied committing atrocities and not targeting civilians, despite injuries and fatalities from these circles.

"Russian Jews will not be held hostage by the war in Ukraine. Attempts to punish the Jewish Agency for Israel's stance on the war are despicable and offensive," Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai said in response to news of the court filing.

The Jerusalem Post reported on July 5 that Russian authorities suspected the Jewish Agency of illegally collecting data on Russian citizens, while also attributing the move to tensions between Israel and Russia over Ukraine and Syria.

About 7.000 Jews emigrated from Russia to Israel last year, according to Israeli government data.

Although Israel has not sent military aid to Ukraine, it condemns Russia's invasion of its neighbor. Traditionally strong relations with Moscow soured in May, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Hitler had Jewish ancestry, sparking anger in Israel.