Ex-Interior Ministry Official Asks High Court to Approve CEO Appointment
Moshe Mor-Yosef, a lawyer and former deputy director-general of the Interior Ministry, has petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice to order the committee for government company appointments to approve his nomination as CEO of the National Community Centers Network (Matnasim).
Mor-Yosef, considered a candidate favored by Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri, was previously the CEO of the Negev Development Authority for six years and held a senior management position at Ashdod's community centers for seven years before that. He has served as deputy director-general of the Interior Ministry since 2023.
The National Community Centers Network operates 700 community centers across 150 local authorities, focusing on supplementary education, lifelong learning, and services for individuals with special needs. Its annual budget is approximately 900 million shekels, and it employs 500 staff members.
The appointment committee initially rejected Mor-Yosef's candidacy, citing that he did not meet the eligibility criteria, specifically regarding the scope of his previous management roles. The committee argued that candidates should have managed bodies with budgets comparable to Matnasim's 900 million shekel budget and a significant number of employees, stating that his previous roles involved budgets of 50-100 million shekels and fewer direct subordinates. The committee also noted his tenure in his current role was only three years, below the five-year minimum requirement.
Mor-Yosef contends that the committee's requirements are not explicitly stated in the law and unfairly limit the pool of potential candidates. His petition argues that the committee's decision is unreasonable, discriminatory, and potentially influenced by extraneous considerations. The High Court has given the state four weeks to respond to the petition and a request for an interim order concerning the appointment.
Following the committee's decision, the board of directors appointed Galit Weidermann, who was ranked second by the search committee, as the new CEO last month. The court's decision on Mor-Yosef's petition could impact Weidermann's appointment.
