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Yesh Atid Quits World Zionist Organization, Upending Power‑Sharing Talks

Lapid vows legislation to place the Jewish National Fund under state oversight, declaring the institutions beyond reform.

Overview

  • The opposition party said it will reject all posts and funding tied to the National Institutions after denouncing corruption and political patronage.
  • The decision followed reports that Likud negotiators sought a senior WZO role for Yair Netanyahu, which Lapid condemned as nepotism.
  • Weeks of negotiations at the World Zionist Congress were thrown into turmoil, leaving leadership appointments at the WZO and KKL‑JNF unresolved.
  • Lapid said he will file a bill to nationalize KKL‑JNF, which controls more than 10% of Israel’s land, subjecting it to public audit and transparency laws.
  • Center‑left partners criticized the exit as undercutting internal reform efforts, though WZO president Tova Dorfman backed the move and cited additional proposed nepotistic appointments.