Aryeh L. Pincus, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, told a press conference here today that the reorganization of the Agency from 16 to nine departments was a “giant step forward.”
He said that retrenchment was necessary because of reduced immigration and financial burdens on the Agency dating from the mass immigration period. He reported that since April, the Agency had reduced its staff by 817 workers. He said 240 of these workers had been given jobs in the Agriculture Ministry. Another 200 Agency employees will be dismissed by the end of the Agency’s fiscal year, he said.
He also reported that both the New York and Jerusalem executives had approved the reorganization and that preparation of new organizational plans were now in full swing and would soon be carried out. He explained the abstentions of three Agency members from approval of the reorganization plan by saying that only Mapam opposed the entire plan and that the others abstained for personal reasons or because they felt each department should have only one head.
Replying to a question as to how one department director would be responsible to two or three heads, he said this was largely a matter of personalities. He added he was certain things could be worked out, adding that in the future, the Agency departments would be guided by decisions jointly arrived at by each department’s heads.
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