Tsur Says Small Body, Not Congress, Should Elect Jewish Agency Executive

A purportedly more democratic method of electing members to the Jewish Agency Executive was proposed here today by former Ambassador Yacov Tsur, outgoing chairman of the Zionist General Council (Actions Committee). Mr. Tsur, who is president of the Jewish National Fund, recommended that the elections be taken out of the hands of the Zionist Congress where, he said, political factions determine the candidates, and be vested with a smaller, separate body. According to Mr. Tsur, Congress delegates are not familiar with the intricacies involved in the nominations and often serve as a rubber stamp for pre-determined candidates. He said that the Congress should retain the right to approve the Executive but not to nominate or elect it. Mr. Tsur will be succeeded as chairman of the General Council be Ehud Avriel, Israel’s former Ambassador to Italy. The General Council is the governing body of the Zionist movement between Congresses.