Russia reportedly is trying to lure back Russian Jews who immigrated to Israel.
Israeli intelligence believes that a cultural center recently opened by the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv is designed to promote the repatriation of Jews who emigrated from Russia.
During last week’s parliamentary elections in Moscow, the cultural center sent emissaries throughout Israel to encourage ex-Russians to vote.
According to Ha’aretz, the cultural center is headed by a former KGB spy whose appointment Israel briefly tried to block. The Russian Embassy was not available for comment on the report.
There are more than 1 million Israelis from the former Soviet Union.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.