Sharett to Chair Jewish Agency in Jerusalem During Goldmann’s Absence

The Zionist Actions Committee will convene April 26 to elect a new Jewish Agency executive, according to a decision today by the outgoing executive. The term of office of the present executive was extended by the World Zionist Congress Yesterday when the parties failed to agree on the composition of a new body.

The outgoing executive which was reconstituted with the replacement of Yaacov Tsur, Yehuda Braginski and Meir Grossman by former Premier Moshe Sharett, Ahron Zisling and Haim Levanon, respectively, established two permanent committees. One committee for activities in the Diaspora, will be headed by Mr. Sharett while a committee for activities in Israel will be headed by Dr. Israel Goldstein, who recently settled in Jerusalem.

Mr. Sharett agreed to preside over the Jerusalem session of the executive during the absence of Dr. Nahum Goldmann, who will remain as chairman, but is leaving for New York and will remain there until April. Zalman Shazar will head the information department in place of Mr. Tsur, who will attend meetings of the executive in an ex officio capacity as president of the Jewish National Fund and chairman of the Zionist Actions Committee.

The executive approved today the 1961-62 Jewish Agency budget totaling over 184,000,000 Israeli pounds ($103,000,000). It was decided that Sharett, Zisling, Levanon and Dr. Goldstein will represent the executive in the permanent Agency-Government coordinating committee.