Gafni Reveals: Smotrich Blocks Transfer of Coalition Funds to Evacuees/Knesset Channel
Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron's term will end in exactly one month, but as of earlier this week it was unclear whether his term would be extended for another term at the end of the five years. This is where Finance Minister Bezalel Samtoric comes in, who saw an opportunity and threw his full weight in favor of the appointment.
This opportunity fell to the Minister of Finance as a ripe villager. In recent weeks, behind the scenes, with the knowledge and assistance of the Bank of Israel, an effective media battle has been waged, mainly on television, to keep the Governor in office. This included leaks from appointment meetings in the Knesset, the activation of a forum of heads of business organizations, and more.
The governor was interested in the job. The fact is that he did not despair and continued to work behind the scenes. But none of this impressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who continued to dry it up until the beginning of the week. Netanyahu did not want Prof. Yaron, partly because of his consistent criticism of the legal revolution and its economic ramifications. The governor was also cursed and insulted by other Likud politicians. And since it was unpleasant, etc., they tried to sew him the role of acting for a few months. But let's say he is not a substitute teacher at the school, a permanent appointment that is important for the war economy, for the economy and for Israel's standing in the world.
Prof. Amir Yaron. The Prime Minister's Little Politics Didn't Work Out/Reuters
So far, and as in other appointments, Netanyahu's substantive considerations are at the bottom of the list of priorities. Small politics play big for him. In the meantime, the governor was ready to humiliate, absorb and wait for the prime minister to speak. All this, until the war came and shuffled the cards. Benny Gantz's entry into the government also changed something in the politics of appointments. Massive pressure was exerted on his continued tenure as governor, especially since Netanyahu did not come up with an alternative appointment.
On the merits. The person who has benefited from the politics surrounding the appointment is Finance Minister Smotrich. Usually finance ministers have no influence on such appointments, but it was here that he succeeded. It turns out that Netanyahu is much more afraid of Smotrich than Yahya Sinwar. The finance minister, who is languishing in the polls, has emerged as an excellent politician and an adult responsible at least in economic matters, which is a certain correction to his collapsing status in the media. The gain, of course, also belongs to the governor himself, who receives an additional 5 years in office during which he can actually outline his policy.
The one who came out with his hand on the bottom was the prime minister himself, who was forced to continue his term as acting governor. He cooked porridge that was poured on him. He also ate the stinky fish and was expelled from the city. It remains to be seen whether the next civil service appointments on the agenda will disappear as well.
- More on the subject:
- Amir Yaron
- Bank of Israel
- Benjamin Netanyahu
