However, Yigal Palmor, head of the Jewish Agency’s international relations unit, stressed that Russia had not asked the organization to end its activities there, contrary to a report by the Jerusalem Post, which broke the story, and a subsequent a claim by Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata. “There was no demand to close, no ultimatum and no deadline,” Palmore told The Times of Israel. According to Palmor, the organization is reviewing the requests made by the Russian authorities in a recent letter. “The letter calls on the Jewish Agency to respond in writing to any dispute regarding the issues raised. The Jewish Agency therefore intends to study the issues in depth, as well as their implications, and address them accordingly,” the organization said. Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms Meanwhile, “all Jewish Service programs and activities will continue as planned,” the organization said. Seeking to further allay fears, a source within the organization said that while the new Russian demands might complicate matters, they were not expected to force the Jewish Agency to end its operations in the country. “It’s a nuisance, but not a real threat,” said the source, who asked not to be named. It was not immediately clear why the Russian government has now issued these new demands. The Jewish Agency said the letter was drawn up after “an administrative review process that lasted more than a year.” The organization said the letter included “observations and criticism of the issues addressed. These are mainly administrative issues, but the letter highlights problems that, according to its authors, were uncovered by the inspection, as well as their potential legal consequences.” These potential legal consequences could have a profound effect on the Jewish Agency’s ability to operate in Russia. Jerusalem and Moscow have been at odds in recent months over Israel’s support for Ukraine after Russia invaded the country in February, as well as Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iran in Syria, which Russia sometimes tolerates and sometimes tolerates. sometimes openly opposed. Separately, Russia is known to exercise a wide-ranging crackdown on foreign organizations. Although not unprecedented, this new threat to the Jewish Agency’s ability to operate in Russia evoked memories of the plight of Jews in the Soviet Union, who were barred from immigrating to Israel and openly practicing their faith. The Jewish Agency, an unofficial arm of the Israeli government, is charged with overseeing and encouraging immigration to Israel, or aliyah. Those wishing to immigrate to Israel must apply through the Jewish Agency. The organization also conducts educational programs and a number of other activities. To facilitate these efforts, the organization maintains offices in many countries and cities around the world, including Moscow. In recent years, tens of thousands of Russian citizens have immigrated to Israel, with about 10,000 arriving just since the Russian invasion began in late February. Last Friday, the organization received a letter from Russia’s justice ministry with a series of demands from the organization that would be a challenge for the Jewish Agency to meet, Palmore said. As the organization is still discussing the matter with Russian authorities, it will not disclose the nature of those requests. “As part of our work, the Jewish Agency delegation in Russia is occasionally called upon to make certain adjustments in accordance with the requirements of the authorities. We maintain constant contact with the authorities, with the aim of continuing our activities in accordance with the rules set by the competent authorities. This dialogue is now continuing,” the organization said in a statement. Tamano-Sata, who falsely claimed Russia ordered the Jewish Agency to close its offices, said she was working with the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene. “I have asked the prime minister to take action with the Moscow government to resolve this issue … Immigration to Israel is a basic right of every Jew in Russia, and we will ensure that it remains so,” she said in a statement. It’s not (only) for you. Supporting The Times of Israel is not a transaction for an online service, such as subscribing to Netflix. The ToI community is for people like you who care about a common good: ensuring that balanced, responsible coverage of Israel continues to be available to millions around the world, for free. Sure, we’ll remove all ads from your page and you’ll get access to some awesome content just for the Community. 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