As Kadima enlists Bielski, talk about replacing him begins

Jewish Agency rumor mill churning as to possible contenders.

By HAVIV RETTIG GUR
zeev bielski 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
zeev bielski 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
As Kadima looks to enlist Jewish Agency chairman Zeev Bielski to its Knesset list in the upcoming national elections, the Jewish Agency rumor mill has begun churning as to possible contenders for replacing the former Ra'anana mayor. Due to the interconnected leaderships of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization, in which the Knesset is proportionally represented, Israel's prime minister has often been the de facto deciding factor in selecting a chairman for the agency. Thus, if Bielski enters the Knesset, the party that builds the next Israeli coalition would likely be the party to select the next chairman of the agency. Bielski cannot maintain both positions due to Knesset rules. Bielski told The Jerusalem Post he has yet to decide if he would enter national politics, but MK Yohanan Plesner, who is close to Kadima head Tzipi Livni, said Livni was very interested in adding the Jewish Agency chairman to the party's Knesset list. "Right now I am responsible to the duties I took upon myself [as chairman of the] Jewish Agency," said Bielski, admitting only that he was "consulting with my friends in the leadership of the agency." He said he would make the decision in the coming days. Already rumors have started about possible contenders to replace the chairman, with the most common name being Kadima's Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim, who expressed interest in the position when Sallai Meridor vacated it in 2005 to become Israeli ambassador to Washington. Boim could not be reached Sunday because he was on an official visit to China, but his interest in the position was confirmed by a Kadima official. He would also likely earn the support of possible party leader Tzipi Livni in the event she becomes Israel's next prime minister, said a source close to Boim. "For Tzipi [Livni], it would be convenient to nominate Boim to the position because it would free up another spot on the cabinet, especially for an ally of Shaul Mofaz," whose faction in Kadima Livni is actively courting. Before any permanent chairman is elected in a summer meeting of the WZO General Council, Bielski would have to formally quit in favor of the Knesset. This would only happen, according to one Jewish Agency insider, if he won a high spot in the Kadima primaries and received a portfolio as part of the next cabinet. "He can be on temporary leave until then," said the insider. "Bielski has no interest in sitting on the back benches of the Knesset." Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.