Today in 1929, the Jewish Agency for Palestine was formed.
With the formation of the Zionist movement, its activities included the organization of the World Zionist Organization. After the establishment of the British Mandate and the growth of the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel, the need arose for the establishment of an executive authority that would represent the Jewish community (and not the Zionists of the entire world), and to remain in constant contact with the Mandatory authorities. For this purpose, Haim Weizmann established the Jewish Agency organization in 1927-1928, in cooperation with part of the leadership of Diaspora Jews. The agency was formally established in August 1929, when Weizmann was appointed to president. The agency included 4 executive branches – Foreign Department, Department of Defense, Department of Education and Department of Immigration. The agency was in fact a government, and the chairman of the agency became the central decision-maker of the Jewish community – when from 1935 David Ben-Gurion held this position (so that his gliding into the role of the first prime minister was only natural). After the establishment of the state, most of the agency’s powers were transferred to the government, and it has since dealt mainly with supporting and initiating settlement, encouraging immigration, strengthening ties between Israel and the Diaspora, and strengthening Israeli society within. Today the agency is headed by Major General Doron Almog.
Photo Source: Wikipedia
