The special Committee of Ten appointed by the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors has settled the dispute over the naming of a new treasurer and the chairmen of three other departments by splitting the portfolios among supporters of Premier Menachem Begin’s coalition government and the opposition Labor Alignment.
The important post of treasurer was given to Akiva Lewinsky of Bank Hapoalim, who had been Labor’s candidate. Likud had supported Herut’s Yoran Aridor, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for the job which was vacated when Leon Dulzin was named chairman of the World Zionist Organization. Dulzin, who is acting chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive, is slated to be named chairman at the Jewish Agency Assembly in Jerusalem June 25.
Because of the dispute between Likud and Labor the 29th World Zionist Congress was unable to agree on a treasurer when it met in February. It then asked the Jewish Agency board of governors to select the officers at its meeting in April since all portfolios are held jointly for the Jewish Agency and the WZO.
But the Board of Governors also was unable to find a solution and it named the Committee of Ten made of five members of the Jewish Agency Executive and five non-Zionist members of the Board of Governors.
OTHER PORTFOLIOS
The committee reached its decision last Friday after six hours of debate Thursday night and Friday morning. Named as head of the Immigration and Absorption Department, by the committee, was Rafael Kotlowitz of Herut. He replaces the incumbent, Labor’s Uzi Narkis.
The committee selected Yosef Shapira of the National Religious Party as head of the youth aliya department. The agricultural settlement department will have two chairmen, Dr. Roman Weitz, of Labor, the present chairman, and a person to be selected by Herut.
Max M. Fisher, chairman of the Board of Governors, praised Dulzin for his statesmanship in helping the committee resolve the problem. He said that as a result of Dulzin’s approach diaspora Jewry will be united as never before.
Dulzin and Fisher said that “the committee acted with a great sense of responsibility, considering all the complex problems involved and reached its decision with a view to strengthening the Jewish Agency and assuring its ability to carry on its responsibilities for the benefit of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
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