Wjc Executive Due to Investigate Allegations Against Rosenbaum

The newly elected Executive of the World Jewish Congress is expected to appoint a committee shortly to inquire into allegations against Tibor Rosenbaum, the Swiss-Jewish financier, whose business difficulties last year resulted in the loss of millions of dollars of Israeli money invested in several of his enterprises. If Rosenbaum is cleared by the committee, sources here said, he will get a seat on the Executive and probably will be appointed as a second treasurer of the WJC.

Sol Kanee, of Winnipeg, Canada, was elected treasure of the WJC, succeeding Rosenbaum who had held that post for the last nine years. Rosenbaum informed WJC President Dr. Nahum Goldmann before the Plenary Assembly opened that he would not be a candidate for office unless a special committee of the Executive gave him a clean bill of health. Rosenbaum claimed that he was a victim of vilification by the news media. Dr. Goldmann indicated at the time that he would appoint such a committee after the Plenary Assembly ended.

Jacques Torczyner, chairman of the nominations committee, said when he presented the nominees that the Plenary Assembly was being asked to vote for one treasurer and that a second treasurer would be designated at a later date. Apparently that office is intended for Rosenbaum if he is cleared.

The financial scandal last year involving Rosenbaum’s International Credit Bank in Geneva and his companies in Vaduz, Lichtenstein caused him to resign from his position as a member of the presidium of the World Mizrachi movement. He has since become a controversial figure within the National Religious Party whose veteran leadership supports him against the opposition of the party’s “young guard.”