In compromise, Likud and Yesh Atid figures to split leadership roles of WZO, KKL

Negotiations at the World Zionist Congress reach a compromise over positions at key Zionist institutions, according to a source at the World Zionist Organization.

According to the agreement, which has not yet been signed, Rabbi Doron Perez, chairman of the religious Zionist World Mizrachi movement — and father of Cpt. Daniel Perez, who was killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and whose body was held captive in Gaza for two years — will serve as the next chair of the World Zionist Organization.

Halfway through his five-year term, he will be replaced by a representative of the Yesh Atid party.

Meanwhile, Yesh Atid MK Meir Cohen will serve as the next chairman of the Jewish National Fund-KKL. He will be replaced in the middle of his term by a representative of Likud.

The agreement is seen as a balanced compromise between the liberal and conservative blocs, based on the relative size of each bloc, the WZO source says. During the previous term, both positions were held by Likud figures, Yaakov Hagoel and Ifat Ovadia-Luski.

The WZO source adds that an attempt by right-wing factions to take over both positions was thwarted by a united stance between pluralist parties.

Cohen, 69, will leave the Knesset after 12 years. In an announcement, Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid calls Cohen “a lifelong member of the Yesh Atid family” who will help the party prepare for upcoming elections.

Cohen is one of Yesh Atid’s founders and has served as both minister and senior party organizer. He will assume his new position in the coming weeks, replacing Ovadia-Luski.

Cohen says he is “grateful for the trust” placed in him and pledges to continue supporting Yesh Atid “in leading the next government that will bring change to the people of Israel.”