Office of the Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs - Natan Sharansky   
 
We view the relationship between Jews of the world as a true and equal partnership, in which those in Israel and those abroad work in concert to achieve mutual goals, and learn one from the other and grow together. Our role, on behalf of the government of Israel, is to facilitate effective and continual communication and dialogue between Jews of the Diaspora and those in Israel, to provide an address in the government for the concerns of world Jewry, and to represent the government and people of Israel to the global Jewish community.
 
Our Mission
The Israeli government, through the office of the minister, is dedicated to building bridges between Israeli and Diaspora Jewish communities, to strengthen Jewish identity and the centrality of Israel in that identity. Our mission, therefore, is to enhance and improve connections in the Jewish world and to reinforce and reinvigorate Jewish pride and affiliation, with the emphasis on Israel, Zionism, Jerusalem and the interdependence of Jews worldwide.

In essence, this translates into a singe, general aim: Securing the existence and the future of the Jewish people wherever they are.

This office acts to achieve these goals by focusing on key initiatives, promoting specific projects geared to bringing Jews of the world together, and working in tandem with individuals and organizations throughout the Jewish world.

 
200 names of Austrian Dormant Bank Accounts Holders.
A list of dormant bank account holders in Austria was published today by Minister Natan Sharansky, on the website of the Prime Minister's Office (at the page of Minister Sharansky): www.pmo.gov.il
Deadline for applications is 31 December, 2004.

The Austrian Ambassador in Israel, Kurt Heng, approached Minister Natan Sharansky, who acts as the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Restitution of Rights and Jewish owned Property, with a request to publish the names of Jews who are bank account holders in Austrian banks. The list includes about 200 names of dormant bank account holders and directions to where to apply and how to apply.

The amounts on the list include accrued interest; among them are accounts of thousands as well as of tens of thousands euro.

"Restitution of dormant bank accounts by Austrian banks is a step in the right direction of 'some justice now',for the Holocaust survivors and their heirs", said the Minister for Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs, Natan Sharansky.

"The Ministerial Committee which I lead, will continue to act diligently, together with the Jewish organizations involved, in order to achieve Restitution as quickly as possible, while the first generation of Holocaust survivors are still living".

For details: Rivka Kenrik 026773712, 056286501

Government Resolution No. 1250 as of December 28, 2003 - Restitution of Jewish Rights and Property & The Rights of Jews who left Arab Countries as Refugees.

1st.Restitution of Jewish Rights and Property
2nd.The Rights of Jews who left Arab Countries as Refugees

Resolved (unanimously):

1st. Restitution of Jewish rights and property

1) The Government of Israel will formulate an overall multi-annual policy regarding the restitution of Jewish rights and property in all fields and from all relevant countries of the world.

2) The State of Israel, in conjunction with Jewish organizations, will lead and coordinate the issue of restitution of private and communal Jewish rights and property, as well as the restitution of rights and property of Jews after the Holocaust, with or without heirs, in Israel and abroad, vis-a-vis domestic and foreign bodies, various organizations, Jewish communities involved in the subject, the Jewish Agency and government officials abroad, with the assistance and cooperation of various Jewish organizations, as required.

3)To establish a Ministerial Committee regarding the restitution of Jewish rights and property, comprised of: Minister Natan Sharansky (in charge of Jerusalem affairs and Social and Diaspora affairs) Chairman; Minister of Justice member; Minister of Foreign Affairs member; Minister of Finance member; Minister of the Interior member; Minister of Construction & Housing member; Minister Meir Sheetrit member. Permanent invitee Chairman of the Jewish Agency.

The Committee's functions will be to formulate an overall policy, as mentioned in the above clauses 1 and 2, update this policy once a year and oversee all policy aspects of the restitution of Jewish property, subject to government policy on this matter and in accordance with Israel's foreign policy. The overall policy and the annual plan will be presented to the Government before their implementation.

4) A. To establish a Steering Committee regarding the restitution of Jewish rights and property, to be comprised of: a representative of Minister Natan Sharansky (in charge of Jerusalem affairs and Social and Diaspora affairs); representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chairmen; representative of the Minister of Finance member; representative of the Ministry of Justice member. Permanent invitee: representative of the Jewish Agency.

2nd.The Steering Committee will be subordinate to the Ministerial Committee, will report to it and carry out duties as defined and assigned by the Ministerial Committee, pursuant to the Government resolutions on these subjects. The Committee will coordinate this issue vis-a-vis international bodies, for the outlining of a united and structured policy underlying this process in accordance with Government resolutions in this regard.

5)To entrust the Steering Committee on the restitution of Jewish property and rights with the task of preparing, within six months and thereafter once a year, an overall annual report regarding the restitution of Jewish property, which shall be formulated and discussed by the Steering Committee and presented to the Ministerial Committee. The report will also include the activities in Israel and various world countries, and consolidate the reports of the countries and organizations engaged in this subject.

6)All the relevant Government agencies, as well as all the recognized Jewish organizations engaged in this subject, will be apprised of the government resolution by the Ministerial and Steering Committees, for the purpose of formulation of a united and structured policy for the continuation of the process on the basis of coordination of this subject, as detailed by the Government of Israel.

7)The Government resolution will be backed by appropriate funding, as coordinated by Minister Natan Sharansky (in charge of Jerusalem affairs and Social and Diaspora affairs).

B. Rights of Jews who left Arab countries as refugees

To renew Government Resolution no. 1544 of March 3, 2002, regarding the registration of claims of Jews from Arab countries a resolution which renewed a previous government resolution on the subject (no. 34 of September 28, 1969) and to expand it as follows, in conjunction with the Government Resolution regarding the restitution of Jewish property.

1) The State of Israel will lead and coordinate attention to the issue of rights and registration of claims of Jews who left Arab countries as refugees, in Israel and abroad, vis-a-vis domestic and foreign bodies, various organizations, Jewish communities involved in this subject, the Jewish Agency and government officials abroad, with the assistance and in conjunction with various Jewish organizations, as required.

2)a. The Department for the Rights of Jews from Arab Countries, within the framework of the Director of Legal Assistance at the Ministry of Justice, will, as in the past, continue to gather information, data, applications and instruments in this regard, and documentation of private and communal property of Jews from Arab countries and the inquiry to their various rights, all such data to be cross-checked with the registration existing in the various organizations.

Two. The existing database, which includes ample documentation, will be reinforced and expanded to furnish sufficient infrastructure and ability to gather data and information and to document the data in various languages, in light of the volume of applications expected after this matter is published and in order to create a unified, central, united and credible database.

Three. The Ministry of Justice will publicize a call in various languages, in the various media channels and on the internet, and will make certain that it is distributed among Jews from Arab countries in Israel and abroad, calling upon anyone who is interested or has information to register their rights, on the basis of the aforementioned past government resolutions, as well as this current one.

3.a. A Steering Committee will be established on the subject of the rights of Jews who left Arab countries as refugees. This committee will comprise: the Directors General of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chairmen); a representative of Minister Natan Sharansky (in charge of Jerusalem affairs and social and Diaspora affairs) - member, the Director-General of the Jewish Agency member; and the Director of Legal Assistance at the Ministry of Justice member and committee coordinator.

b.The Steering Committee will be subordinate to the Ministerial Committee regarding the restitution of Jewish rights and property, will report to it on attention and progress in this matter and will carry out duties as outlined and assigned by the Ministerial Committee, on the basis of government resolutions in this regard. The Committee will coordinate this issue vis-a-vis international organizations, for the purpose of coordinating and outlining a united and structured policy for this process in accordance with the Government resolutions in this regard.

4.Attention to the matter of documentation and registration will continue to be coordinated by the Ministry of Justice, through the Department of Rights of Jews from Arab Countries, which is attached to the Director of Legal Assistance at the Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the office of Minister Natan Sharansky (in charge of Jerusalem affairs and Social and Diaspora affairs), the Jewish Agency, the World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries (W.O.J.A.C), representatives of the Jewish communities and other relevant agencies as required each agency in its field of activity.

5.All the relevant government agencies, as well as all recognized Jewish organizations engaged in this subject, will be apprised of the Government resolution by the Ministerial Committee and the Steering Committee, for the purpose of formulating a united and structured policy for the continuation of the process, on the basis of coordination of the subject, as detailed by the State of Israel.

6.The Government resolution will be backed by a separate designated budget, to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice, in order to reinforce the alignment of manpower and the infrastructure of publication and documentation for the implementation of the resolution, as coordinated between these ministries.

Contact us
Tel: 02-6773712
Fax: 02-6773719

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