The Agency's Advise and Consent Committee held a post-midnight session early Friday morning and decided that Sharansky (pictured), a vocal opponent to the government evacuation plan, is too political to head the Jewish Agency. The decision paved the way for Raanana Mayor Zev Bielski, who supports the evacuation and was hand-picked by Prime Minister Sharon, to succeed Salai Meridor as head of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization.
Supporters of Sharon pressured wealthy American donors on the Advise committee to squelch Sharansky's bid, according to media reports. The Advise Committee's decision was non-binding, but Sharansky then resigned from the race, and the World Zionist Organization Assembly Friday morning unanimously approved Bielski as interim head of the Jewish Agency.
However, opponents to Bielski have asked the courts to ban him from the post. Prof. Yisrael Hanukoglu filed a petition in the Jerusalem District Court on grounds of reports that Bielski is a member of the Central Committee of the Likud, whereas he was nominated by the Herut/Merkaz party. "Bielski's road [to the nomination] was closed in the Likud, so how can he then run to be nominated by another party?" asked Hanukoglu. "And in what democratic procedure was Bielski nominated in Herut? ... The main issue here is that people are nominated by manipulations and illegitimate maneuvering."
Sharon's office wheeled and dealed to prevent Sharansky's bid, despite his strong connections with the Diaspora. He was the Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs until he resigned several weeks ago because of his opposition to Sharon's plan to abandon Gaza and parts of Samaria.
The World Likud Committee, angry at Sharon both for picking his own candidate without consultation and for the evacuation plan, backed Sharansky, who was given a seat on the Executive Council of the WZO, a requirement for being elected Agency chairman. Meridor, a Likud member and the outgoing chairman, offered to resign in order to give Bielski the required committee seat, but a court ruled that the Likud cannot back a nominee other than Sharansky, the official party candidate.
Sharon's aides, including his son Omri, then turned to the Reform and Conservative executive council representatives, who also were against Sharansky, partly because of his attachment to traditional Judaism, but they declined to relinquish a seat for Beilski.
Sharon's aides then went to the right wing Herut party, headed by former MK Michael Kleiner, a staunch supporter of Jewish life in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha). Media reports said he agreed to give up his seat to Bielski because they are friends and because Kleiner, a former Likud member, is angry at the party.
Kleiner explained that he supports Bielski "because he said he wouldn't give political statements, whereas Sharansky, though he is against a unilateral disengagement, is also in favor of a Palestinian state if it can be achieved democratically. That means that if Hamas wins the PA elections, he would support a PA state run by Hamas."
The bizarre politicking of this week makes Bielski a right-wing party candidate who will be backed by left-wing and non-Orthodox representatives.
Sharansky said he was disappointed by the decision. "I had wanted to contribute from my vast experience and lead the Jewish Agency that is having difficult problems. Unfortunately, narrow interests and foreign considerations prevented me from running in a fair and democratic manner and winning."
The Likud in Israel accused Prime Minister Sharon and his son Omri of bringing about Sharansky's removal from the race. "It has once again been proven that the Sharon family has no qualms about doing anything to advance its own candidates," the party statement read. "Sharon's people succeeded in blackening Sharansky's image and causing him to be disqualified as a candidate for Jewish Agency Chairman."
Supporters of Sharon pressured wealthy American donors on the Advise committee to squelch Sharansky's bid, according to media reports. The Advise Committee's decision was non-binding, but Sharansky then resigned from the race, and the World Zionist Organization Assembly Friday morning unanimously approved Bielski as interim head of the Jewish Agency.
However, opponents to Bielski have asked the courts to ban him from the post. Prof. Yisrael Hanukoglu filed a petition in the Jerusalem District Court on grounds of reports that Bielski is a member of the Central Committee of the Likud, whereas he was nominated by the Herut/Merkaz party. "Bielski's road [to the nomination] was closed in the Likud, so how can he then run to be nominated by another party?" asked Hanukoglu. "And in what democratic procedure was Bielski nominated in Herut? ... The main issue here is that people are nominated by manipulations and illegitimate maneuvering."
Sharon's office wheeled and dealed to prevent Sharansky's bid, despite his strong connections with the Diaspora. He was the Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs until he resigned several weeks ago because of his opposition to Sharon's plan to abandon Gaza and parts of Samaria.
The World Likud Committee, angry at Sharon both for picking his own candidate without consultation and for the evacuation plan, backed Sharansky, who was given a seat on the Executive Council of the WZO, a requirement for being elected Agency chairman. Meridor, a Likud member and the outgoing chairman, offered to resign in order to give Bielski the required committee seat, but a court ruled that the Likud cannot back a nominee other than Sharansky, the official party candidate.
Sharon's aides, including his son Omri, then turned to the Reform and Conservative executive council representatives, who also were against Sharansky, partly because of his attachment to traditional Judaism, but they declined to relinquish a seat for Beilski.
Sharon's aides then went to the right wing Herut party, headed by former MK Michael Kleiner, a staunch supporter of Jewish life in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha). Media reports said he agreed to give up his seat to Bielski because they are friends and because Kleiner, a former Likud member, is angry at the party.
Kleiner explained that he supports Bielski "because he said he wouldn't give political statements, whereas Sharansky, though he is against a unilateral disengagement, is also in favor of a Palestinian state if it can be achieved democratically. That means that if Hamas wins the PA elections, he would support a PA state run by Hamas."
The bizarre politicking of this week makes Bielski a right-wing party candidate who will be backed by left-wing and non-Orthodox representatives.
Sharansky said he was disappointed by the decision. "I had wanted to contribute from my vast experience and lead the Jewish Agency that is having difficult problems. Unfortunately, narrow interests and foreign considerations prevented me from running in a fair and democratic manner and winning."
The Likud in Israel accused Prime Minister Sharon and his son Omri of bringing about Sharansky's removal from the race. "It has once again been proven that the Sharon family has no qualms about doing anything to advance its own candidates," the party statement read. "Sharon's people succeeded in blackening Sharansky's image and causing him to be disqualified as a candidate for Jewish Agency Chairman."