Retired IDF general serving as head of the Jewish Agency forced to cancel planned trip to South Africa amid fears local authorities could prosecute him for his service in the Israeli military.

By World Israel News Staff

The head of Israel’s Jewish Agency has been forced to cancel his plans to visit South Africa, the quasi-governmental agency announced over the weekend, over fears local authorities could try to arrest him over his past service in the Israeli military.

On Sunday, the Jewish Agency for Israel announced that IDF Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, who has served as the agency’s chairman since 2022, canceled his upcoming trip to South Africa following an “up-to-date assessment of the situation.”

The Jewish Agency hinted that a new trip to South Africa would be planned at a later date, without specifying a time frame, downplaying the cancellation as a postponement.

“The planned trip of the chairman of the Jewish Agency, Doron Almog, to South Africa has been postponed.”

Almog, 74, served in the IDF from 1969 to 2003, ultimately serving as chief of the army’s Southern Command until his retirement during the Second Intifada.

Four of Almog’s relatives – including Chen Almog-Goldstein and her children Agam, Gal, and Tal – were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, while two others, Nadav Goldstein and IDF Staff Sgt. Yam Goldstein-Almog, were murdered by Gaza terrorists.

This is not the first time Almog has been forced to scrap travel plans abroad over possible prosecution for his IDF service.

In September 2005, Almog and his wife arrived in London on board an El Al flight for a fundraising trip on behalf of an Israeli non-profit organization.

However, the two were warned by the Israeli Embassy in London immediately upon their arrival that local authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Almog, with London Metropolitan Police prepared to take him into custody as soon as he presented himself to customs officials in the airport.

Almog and his wife remained on board the aircraft and returned home to Israel to avoid his detention.

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Almog replaces Isaac Herzog, who left the role last year after being elected president of Israel.

By JNS.org

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, 71, has been nominated to serve as the new chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel for the next four years.

His candidacy is expected to be approved during the annual meeting of JAFI’s Board of Governors in July, after which he is expected to take the post in September.

Almog previously served as the commander of the Southern Command from 2000 to 2003.

He is the founder and chairman of the Adi Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village, named after his son Eran, who died at a young age from Castleman’s disease.

He was a torchbearer during Israel Independence Day celebrations in 2006 as a token of appreciation for his contribution to the development of the Negev. Almog was also a recipient of the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society and the State in 2016, and served as 2022 chairman of the Israel Security Award Committee.

Yaakov Hagoel, who chairs the JAFI Nominating Committee as well as the World Zionist Organization, said, “I am confident that he will lead the Jewish Agency with the same dedication and determination with which his predecessors in this position acted.”

The Jewish Federations of North America also expressed support for Almog, saying, “We are very excited to begin partnering closely with Doron, a highly admired professional who has dedicated his life to the Jewish people, tikkun olam and empowering the most vulnerable in Israeli society—values that our North American Jewish community deeply cherishes.

“We look forward to working with him to further these values and deepen the vibrant relationship between Israel and North American Jewry, and continue our sacred work of building flourishing Jewish communities around the world.”

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