The Jewish Agency

Based on Article 4 of the Mandate Charter, the British government appointed the executive body of the Zionist Organization in Palestine to serve as the “Jewish Agency” in 1921. It was the body responsible for providing “advice and cooperation” to Britain on all matters contributing to the establishment of the Jewish national home and the preservation of the interests of the Jewish population in Palestine.

The Jewish Agency was expanded in 1929 to include representatives of non-Zionist Jews. The agency’s executive body closely mirrored that of the World Zionist Organization. Consequently, until the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Jewish Agency effectively performed a quasi-state role in Palestine in coordination with the World Zionist Organization.

After 1948, the Zionist movement continued to support Jewish immigration and settlement in “Israel.” In August 1951, the World Zionist Organization held its 23rd Congress in Jerusalem for the first time. During the congress, it redefined the goals of Zionism through the Jerusalem Program, emphasizing the strengthening of the “State of Israel,” the ingathering of Jews in the “Land of Israel,” and working toward the “unity of the Jewish people.”

The Haavara Agreement (Transfer Agreement) was concluded between the Zionist Jewish Agency and Nazi Germany on August 25, 1933. The agreement was designed to facilitate the emigration of Jews to Palestine, under conditions that involved the transfer of their assets from Germany. Approximately 20,000 of the 500,000 German Jews and 200,000 Austrian Jews were transferred under the agreement, with their assets exported to Palestine in the form of German goods, thereby contributing to the German economy. A company known as the Haavara Company Ltd. was established as a result of the agreement and supervised the transfer operations.

In November 1952, the Knesset enacted legislation recognizing the organization as an “authorized agency” to continue operating in Israel to absorb immigrants (settlers) and facilitate their settlement in the country. The law also authorized it to enter into an agreement with the state, which was concluded in 1954.

The Jewish Agency continued its activities after 1967 in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Source:

The Interactive Encyclopedia.