The Central French Jewish Welfare Fund (FSJU) and the Jewish Agency decided by mutual consent today to revert to their original fund-sharing agreement, thus ending the “misunderstanding” which had developed between them in recent weeks. The original agreement, which will now be enforced, provides for the equal sharing of the first $4 million of UJA funds with additional funds going two-thirds to Israel and one-third for local communal needs.
The original agreement was signed Sept. 22, 1967, when the French UJA was established. It was suspended in 1969 in consideration of Israel’s growing financial needs. The new agreement was negotiated last night by FSJU president Guy de Rothschild and Jewish Agency Executive Chairman Louis Pincus.
Circles close to the two sides expressed satisfaction at the mutually satisfactory solution found and said that the FSJU and the Jewish Agency would continue to cooperate on a friendly and trusting basis. In a joint communique the two sides stressed the “friendly and trusting” atmosphere which prevailed throughout the meeting. Pincus is quoted by the communique as saying “We are as close to the future of the French Jewish community as you yourself are close to Israel.”
The new agreement will be enforced for three years starting in 1973. The communique said that the agreement will then grant to the FSJU “the minimum needs to continue its cultural, educational and social programs.” Pincus and Rothschild stressed in their communique that the new agreement will further strengthen relations between the French Jewish community and Israel.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
