"For personal reasons": The Director General of the Ministry of National Security, Adv. Shlomo Ben-Eliyahu, announced today (Wednesday) to National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir that his term as Director General is ending, for personal reasons. This is another significant departure in Ben-Gvir's office after his spokesman, Eli Feldstein, also left the post after only four months.
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In a letter to Ministry employees, the Director General stated: "Due to personal reasons, I recently informed the Minister of National Security of my intention to end my term as Director General of the Ministry. At the outset, I would like to thank the Minister for appointing me to this important position at such a sensitive and necessary time. Under his leadership, we have advanced a series of achievements, some of which are already bearing fruit and some of which will bear fruit in the months and years to come."
Significant contribution to the firm
"I am grateful for the privilege I had to work with you, and this is the place to commend the ministry's employees and management for their fruitful cooperation, which led to many achievements, including: an unprecedented achievement of increasing the budget of the Ministry of National Security, the Israel Police, Fire and Rescue Services and the Prison Service; substantial pay increases for police officers and prison guards; a substantial increase in manpower standards in the Ministry and its various bodies; Completion of the work of the National Guard establishment committee that I chaired together with a professional team from the ministry."
He added in his letter: "The family atmosphere, professionalism and pride of the unit that flows through the veins of the employees of the Ministry of National Security is highly admirable. I thank National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir for the trust he has placed in me and for working together."
Adv. Shlomo Ben Eliyahu, CEO of Ben-Gvir's office, resigns after nine months, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir said: "I thank the Director General of the Ministry for granting my request to serve at a time when we have built a huge budget for the Ministry, which enables the Ministry, the police, the Fire and Rescue Services, and the IPS to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead, strengthen their capabilities and implement my policy to strengthen security and a sense of personal security."
"During this period, we have made significant achievements, including leading an emergency plan to ease the granting of licenses to carry private firearms to citizens, increasing municipal policing, budgeting foot policing and many other achievements," he added in his statement. "In light of personal reasons, I accepted the CEO's request to end his term. Adv. Ben Eliyahu has extensive experience in public service and has served as CEO of many firms and I thank him for his significant contribution to the State of Israel."
According to Ben-Eliyahu's announcement, which was brought to the ministry by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after previously serving as director general of other government ministries, he decided to leave the post for personal reasons, but according to several sources, the background is actually disagreements with the minister and his chief of staff, Hanmal Dorfman.
Ben Eliyahu ben Eliyahu is the brother of the Rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu. He is considered a respected manager and previously served as Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Director General of the Ministry of Construction, Director General of the Israel Land Administration and Head of the Settlement Department of the Jewish Agency. He is also considered one of Ben-Gvir's closest associates and was part of Otzma Yehudit's coalition negotiating team.
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