WZO Will Test New Plan to Extend Powers of Zionist Federations Abroad

The World Zionist Organization Executive approved today a new plan to give the various Zionist Federations more control of Zionist activities in their country. The new system will be applied first in England, Italy, Argentina and Uruguay and after an experimental period it will be expanded to other countries.

Under the new system, each Federation will set up committees parallel to departments of the WZO and Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. Each department in Jerusalem will have to consult the Federation involved before it sends an emissary (shlieach) to that country.

One emissary will be appointed to each country who will coordinate the work of all emissaries and will also keep in constant touch with the head of the Zionist Federation. The main function of this emissary will be to assure full coordination and cooperation between the various emissaries and the federation.

At today’s meeting WZO chairman Leon Dulzin informed the Executive of the new portfolios that are being given out for WZO/Jewish Agency department heads. He stressed that the new appointments, worked out by a Committee of Ten in New York made up of five members of the Jewish Agency Executive and five non-Zionist members of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors, has the support of all parties and organizations represented in the WZO Executive.

MKS OBJECT TO SHENKER

The new chairmen include: Akiva Lewinsky, Labor Alignment, treasurer; Mrs. Fay Schenk, former president of the American Zionist Federation, head of the organization department; Eli Eyal, Democratic Movement for Change (DMC), information department; Avraham Katz, Likud, youth and hechalutz department; Dr. Yaacov Eliezer Tavin, Likud, diaspora culture and education department; Moshe Krone, National Religious Party, diaspora Torah department, Andre Narvoni, Sephardi department, and Dr. Avraham Avihai, head of Keren Hayesod.

The appointment of Avraham Schenker, of Mapam, former head of the information and organization department, as head of the young leadership department was held up following protests by young MKs of all parties. They told Dulzin at a meeting that it was unacceptable that someone who is 59 years old head youth leadership. It was agreed to hold up the matter until Schenker returns from a private visit to the United States. Rafael Kotlowitz, of Herut, who is the new head of the immigration and absorption department, announced that the Revisionists will propose Matitayhu Drobless as co-chairman of the settlement department along with Prof. Raanan Weitz of Labor. Drobless would replace Yoram Aridor on the WZO Executive.