The Jewish Agency for Israel also known as The Jewish Agency (or sochnut in Hebrew), was previously called the Jewish Agency for Palestine (during the British Mandate of Palestine) is an Israeli organisation that advocates for Israel and is composed mainly, but not entirely, of Jewish people.

A Zionist organization, originally established in 1923 to represent the Jewish community in Palestine before the Mandate government. It received official recognition in 1929. The Jewish Agency was charged with facilitating Jewish immigration into Palestine, land purchase from Arab owners, and planning the general policies of the Zionist leadership.

Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Agency was renamed the Jewish Agency of Israel. It was used by the Israeli government to carry out activities that would have been too awkward to be exercized by the government.

Following the Six Day War in 1967, a new division was established within the agency to carry out settlement activities in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.

Some critics claim that the very existence of the Jewish Agency is contrary to the principles of civil equality, as its policies prevent equal land distribution to Israeli Arabs.

External links

http://www.jafi.org.il/