Yair Lapid
Yair LapidHaim Zach/GPO

Following the Russian government's decision to stop the activities of the Jewish Agency in the country, Prime Minister Yair Lapid directed Foreign Ministry personnel to "put together a package of tools against the Russian decision", and it has become clear that Israel is considering requesting the intervention of President Isaac Herzog with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Israeli officials told Channel 13 News on Sunday that "this step is being considered", but added they prefer "to delay using the president for the future. He is not the first card that will be pulled."

During a secret meeting held on Sunday, Lapid admitted to the ministers that the Russian decision was a political protest and not a legal incident as it was claimed in Israel. Confidentiality was imposed on participants in the meeting and those present were required to declare that they would maintain secrecy, but during the meeting it was decided to move forward on two parallel routes to resolve the crisis, and wait for a Russian agreement to accept a delegation of Israeli jurists to Russia - that is, to play the Russian game, which says that the dispute is legal.

Earlier on Sunday, Lapid chaired an emergency discussion on the activity of the Jewish Agency in Russia. Prime Minister said that the relations with Russia are important for Israel, and that the large Jewish community in Russia is important and is brought up in all diplomatic discourse with the administration in Moscow. Closing the Jewish Agency offices would be a serious event that would affect relations.

The Prime Minister instructed the legal delegation to be prepared to depart for Moscow as soon as the Russian approval for talks is received and to make every effort to exhaust the legal dialogue alongside advancing the high-level diplomatic dialogue on the issue.

It was also agreed that the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to coordinate this matter with all relevant parties.