The world Masorti/Conservative Movement, together with the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Hanoar Hatzioni, and Shinui, have endorsed Zeev Bielski’s candidacy to head the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization .
The Zionist organizational arms of the liberal movements are in Jerusalem for the annual gathering of the Zionist General Council, the global gathering of Zionist organizations.
Bielski needed to secure the support of one of the council's factions in order to bolster his chances of being elected JAFI and WZO chairman. Elections are to be held during a meeting of the agency’s General Assembly and Board of Governors next week.
Earlier this week, World Likud nominated Natan Sharansky as its candidate, despite Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's support of Bielski.
Sharansky, an opponent of the disengagement from Gaza, resigned his position in the Sharon government earlier this year.
The liberal movements are backing Bielski, despite questions about the way he was nominated, in order that the Jewish Agency head not be a foe of the Israeli government's policy at this time.
Once elected, the chairman would serve a term of one year, until the end of the current Zionist Congress in June 2006.
The battle for the leadership of JAFI follows the resignation of Sallai Meridor in May.
