Reform, Conservative movements support Bielksi as new JAFI chairman

The Reform and Conservative movements on Monday endorsed Zeev Bielski’s candidacy to head the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). The Zionist organizational arms of the liberal movements are in Jerusalem for the annual gathering of the Zionist General Council. The movements’ support was expected to bolster Bielski’s chances of being elected JAFI chairman during a meeting of the agency’s general assembly and its board of governors next week. Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon chose Bielski to succeed Sallai Meridor, but the international organization of Sharon’s ruling Likud party on Sunday selected former Cabinet minister Natan Sharansky as its preferred candidate. Bielski, who is known for his good relations with Diaspora Jews, understood the concerns and needs of the Diaspora community, including the importance of increased religious pluralism in Israel, a spokesman for Reform Judaism told the news agency JTA.