Yehiel Leket, director of the Israel Aliya Center in North America, has announced that he will return to Israel to become a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party to replace the late Housing Minister Abraham Ofer.
Leket stated that he reached his decision after consulting with the top officials of the Aliya Department and will terminate his tenure in the United States towards the end of January. Meanwhile, all necessary steps to replace him will be taken, he said. Leket, 35, became director of the Israel Aliya Center in August, 1975 and was to have stayed on until August. 1977. Previously. Leket was chairman of the Young Leadership in the Labor Party, and before that, spokesman for the Ministry of Education in Israel.
“Aliya is the real major challenge that American Jewry and especially the young generation has to face–as well as absorption in Israel is the real challenge that the Israeli society has to face.” Leket said. “On both sides, there is not enough awareness to face these challenges. In my new capacity as a member of the Knesset, I shall do everything possible to improve and advance these two subjects which have been my major concern during my tenure in the United States.
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