Edgar Bronfman resigned Monday as the president of the World Jewish Congress. He submitted his resignation at a meeting of the WJC steering committee in Manhattan.

The move comes against the backdrop of a threatened split in the WJC. The president of the European Jewish Congress, Pierre Besnainou, had issued an ultimatum, saying that he would pull out of the WJC if elections were not held in the course of the year.

An interim president will be elected to replace Bronfman on June 10. The only candidate for the position at present is Mendel Kaplan, who has the backing of Besnainou.

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In a surprise move earlier this year, Bronfman fired Israel Singer, one of the leading figures in the WJC. The dismissal drew a furious response from Besnainou.

South African-born 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.

The next elections for president of the World Jewish Congress were scheduled to take place in 2009. There were reports, however, that Bronfman was willing to move up his retirement, if his son, Matthew, succeeds him in the post.

American Jewish billionaire Ronald Lauder previously announced his interest in the position, competing against Bronfman junior. He first stated his aim in a Haaretz interview, saying he was "very interested" in the post.

Lauder accused the younger Bronfman of lacking experience and familiarity with the Jewish world, and claimed that it was inconceivable for the presidency of the WJC be passed down from father to son as if it were some monarchy or private enterprise.

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