The JTA is reporting Edgar Bronfman has resigned as president of the World Jewish Congress. It also reports the WJC's Steering Committee will choose the next president, and that Matthew Bronfman, Edgar's son, is not a candidate. Mendel Kaplan, originally from South Africa, and Ronald Lauder, the cosmetics magnet, are the leading candidates for president.
More on this soon. Suffice to say for now that Bronfman overplayed his hand and did much to hurt the WJC during the previous months. Why? Bad advice from Donald Rumsfeld's former right hand man, Stephen Herbits, now WJC Secretary-General, whose bullying tactics and abrasive behavior made Edgar look tame by comparison.
UPDATE: Ha'aretz is reporting the only candidate for interim president is Mendel Kaplan, who:
is currently chairman of the World Jewish Congress Executive, previously served as the WJC treasurer, chairman of the board of governors at the Jewish Agency and vice president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.