The Governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer, left yesterday for the U.S. to take part in the General Assembly (GA) of the United Jewish Communities being held in Los Angeles.

Other Israeli officials attending include Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and a long list of ministers and MKs, including Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson and the head of the opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The GA is taking place in the shadow of the Lebanon war, and its theme is: "Together on the front line: One people, one destiny."

Fischer will speak during the convention on the latest developments in the Israeli economy and the challenges it faces. The governor will also take part in a forum on the value for foreign investors in the Israeli economy.

Due to the presence of Fischer, Hirchson and the treasury director general, Joseph Bachar, at the GA, the talks intended to end the labor dispute at the Bank of Israel have been put off till next week.

According to the sides participating in the talks, at least one more meeting including Fischer and Hirchson is needed to solve remaining issues and sign an agreement between the treasury, central bank, bank employees' union and the Histadrut labor federation. Yesterday the union decided not to take any work sanctions for now in light of progress in the negotiations.

Tomorrow Fischer will meet in New York with senior financial leaders and update them about the Israeli economy. He is scheduled to return to Israel on Thursday.

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