The former directors of the Government Companies Authority are trying to prevent the removal of the current director, Adv. Michal Rosenbaum, by Minister Dudi Amsalem – an act they defined as a "predatory move."
Minister Amsalem at the plenum: Ehud and Aharon Barak should sit in prison// Knesset Channel
In an official letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they note that "in such a situation, there is a grave concern that public servants with skills and integrity will leave the public service and will be replaced by others who will be chosen on the basis of their proximity to the minister in charge, and not on the basis of their qualifications."
The letter was signed by Tami Ben David, who served as Director of the Government Companies Authority between 1995-1996, Uri Yogev (2012-2017), Yaron Jacobs (2000-2002), Doron Cohen (2009-2012), Udi Nissan (2008-2009) and Yossi Nitzani (1991-1995).
Adv. Michal Rosenbaum, Photo: Elad Malka
"Minister Amsalem's attempt to fire the director of the Government Companies Authority was made against the background of her opposition to his attempts to interfere in the day-to-day management of the Authority," they write, "and his intention is to appoint associates to senior positions in government companies even though they do not have the necessary qualifications to do so."
The six express their concern that those appointed by Minister Amsalem - "instead of fulfilling their duties and insisting on professional principles, will try to please the minister in charge. Such a state of affairs will transform Israel from an advanced country into a third world country," it said.
Amsalem on Rosenbaum: "Doing everything in its power to thwart my ability to criticize the work of the Companies Authority"
Earlier this month, PA Director Adv. Michal Rosenbaum sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu describing to the ministers "the enormous damage caused to government companies." She said of Amsalem that he "stopped responding to my inquiries on professional matters and launched a personal attack on me."
After the investigation in Israel Hayom": Minister Dudi Amsalem demanded the removal of the Director of the Companies Authority, Rosenbaum. In a letter sent to Civil Service Commissioner Prof. Daniel Hershkovitz, Amsalem, who is in charge of the Companies Authority, wrote that there is a basis for terminating the Companies Authority's term on two grounds prescribed by law: unsuitability for the position and the existence of a severe and ongoing crisis of confidence.
Civil Service Commissioner Daniel Hershkovitz, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Amsalem wrote that "the authority's administration is doing everything in its power to thwart my ability to criticize the work of the Companies Authority and to outline my policy as determined by law." Regarding one of the meetings held with the participation of the two, he wrote, "There seems to be concern that this meeting was recorded, in addition to the fact that large parts of the meeting were disseminated to the media."
Appeal to Netanyahu: Government companies are the property of the public
Government companies in Israel directly employ about 60,000 employees (and indirectly more than 150,000), manage assets totaling NIS 250 billion, and are responsible for exports of NIS 16 billion.
The authors of the letter further wrote: "The professional conduct of the companies is essential for the Israeli economy, for the quality of services received by its residents, and for the future of the economy as a whole. As the head of the Companies Authority, we are concerned about the negative economic impact of this step on the management of state assets and the severe damage that will be caused as a result to the development of essential infrastructures and the provision of services to the country's residents. Government companies are the property of the public, and the authority must act for the benefit of the general public, while conducting professional conduct without compromise, without foreign political considerations. We call on you to immediately stop these impeachment processes and work to strengthen the independence of the Authority and the professional management of government companies."
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