Israel's National AI Directorate Expands External Staff Beyond Recommendations
Israel's Prime Minister's Office has approved special, non-tendered contracts in June and July 2026 to hire three senior consultants for the National Artificial Intelligence Directorate. These agreements indicate the directorate's intention to employ a total of 30 external consultants, an increase from previous statements suggesting 20. This expansion also deviates from the recommendations of the Nagal Committee, which proposed hiring 25 consultants at a maximum cost of 95,000 shekels per month per consultant.
The hiring model utilizes an unusual public sector arrangement that allows for high salaries to compete with private sector compensation. The directorate's establishment was based on an August 2025 report identifying AI as an existential need for Israel, leading to a government decision in September of that year to create it as a subordinate unit. To facilitate the necessary salary levels for competing with the high-tech industry, a unique staffing procedure was developed in November 2025.
This procedure permits the recruitment of experts under professional trust relationships and at adjusted rates. Employment contracts are for one year with an option for a two-year extension. Ayelet Gavish has been appointed as the Human Capital Development Advisor, with an annual cost of approximately 1.31 million shekels. Her role involves developing and accelerating human capital in the field, increasing the number of experts, adapting the labor market, and strengthening ties with academia, drawing on her recent experience as VP of HR at LocuView.
Joining Gavish are Itai Shalom, as Technology Partnerships Advisor, and Zemer Blondheim, as Data Advisor. Both will have an annual cost of up to 783,900 shekels each. Blondheim's extensive experience includes roles in Unit 8200, the Ministry of Justice, the Regulatory Authority, and co-founding the "Shomrei HaDerech" project. Shalom also has over a decade of experience in the high-tech industry. The total projected cost for these three consultants over three years is approximately 8.6 million shekels before VAT. This initiative aims to secure Israel's position at the forefront of technology and establish it as a global leader in AI.
