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ZURICH (JTA) — An international panel of historians concluded its report on Swiss gold purchases from Nazi Germany, but publication of the report will be postponed beyond its previously scheduled date of Monday.

The Independent Commission of Experts said in a statement that the delay was due to the Swiss government's desire to have the report translated from German into French, Italian and English before it was released simultaneously in all four languages.

But some Swiss observers suspect that the government fears that the report would adversely affect ongoing negotiations with Swiss banks for a global settlement of Holocaust-era related issues.

Jewish museum wins autonomy in Berlin

FRANKFURT (JTA) — Berlin authorities recently decided to grant the city's Jewish museum cultural autonomy, potentially ending a long-running dispute between the Berlin Jewish community and city officials.

The agreement between the museum's director, Michael Blumenthal, and Berlin cultural senator Peter Radunski gives the museum control over exhibitions, displays and personnel decisions.

Berlin cultural officials insisted for years on retaining control over the conception and display of exhibits in the Jewish museum. They envisioned a museum dedicated primarily to the display of Jewish life in Berlin.

The refusal of the previous director, Amnon Barzel, to realize this concept, led to his dismissal last year by the Berlin government.

The dispute delayed by two years the opening of the new Jewish museum, a striking and highly praised building designed by Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind.

The Jewish museum, now slated to open in 1999, is part of a larger group of museums that are administered by the city of Berlin.

The agreement must still be approved by the Berlin Parliament.

Moscow-Tel Aviv flights to increase

MOSCOW (JTA) — A Russian airline has announced that it will expand its service to Israel later this year.

Transaero Airlines said it would add three weekly flights between Moscow and Tel Aviv to the five it currently operates to meet a growing demand.

The route is one of the busiest among a dozen foreign routes operated by Russia's largest privately owned carrier.