ABSTRACT
From the early 1920s the World Zionist Organization, through its executive arm the Jewish Agency, was responsible for the immigration of Jews and their absorption in Israel. Three months after the founding of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the young Israeli government decided that the Jewish Agency would continue to be responsible for immigration and its absorption in Israeli society. This responsibility was formalized in a law passed by the Knesset: The Status of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for the Land of Israel, 5713/1952. Details on specific fields of activities were determined in a covenant between the Government of Israel and the World Zionist Organization Executive. 1
