The Israel Cabinet today approved the text of a document granting special status in Israel to the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency. A Cabinet spokesman explained that the government will submit the text of the document to the Israel Parliament for approval, after which the government will be able to sign a charter for the Jewish Agency.
A special ministerial committee composed of Premier David Ben Gurion and the Foreign and Interior Ministers will edit the final draft which has been agreed to by leaders of the Jewish Agency. The edited text of the status is expected to be submitted to Parliament next week, immediately after it reconvenes. However, a government spokesman cautioned that circumstances might develop to delay presentation of the document to Parliament.
Explaining the proposed charter for the Jewish Agency, a government spokesman said that the Agency would become a legal body entitled to work in Israel under a specified law. It will be able to buy and sell property in Israel. It will, among other things, be exempt from taxation under conditions stipulated in the charter.
The Jewish Agency issued a communique announcing that Berl Locker, chairman of the Agency executive, and its treasurer, Levi Eshkol, today reported to the executive on the negotiations with the Israel Government regarding the status.
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