Israel Cancels Appointment of Ayalon Highways Chairman Amid Resume Fraud Allegations

The committee for approving senior appointments in government companies has revoked its approval for the appointment of Idan David as CEO of Ayalon Highways. This decision follows serious suspicions that David falsified his resume submitted to the selection committee, which formed the basis for his initial approval.

The allegations against David surfaced earlier this month in an investigative report by Channel 12. The Government Companies Authority subsequently demanded explanations from David and warned that his appointment could be canceled. The head of the Investigations and Intelligence Department, Superintendent Boaz Balt, has ordered a probe into the matter.

David was the candidate put forward by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who oversees Ayalon Highways. His appointment was also finalized by Minister Dovid Amsalem, responsible for the Government Companies Authority. Shulamit Dotan, the committee chair and a retired Jerusalem Magistrate Court president, reviewed the findings regarding David's resume. She concluded that the decision to appoint him was based on factual information that is highly likely to be untrue, thus undermining the factual basis of the decision and invalidating David's appointment.

Dotan stated that David's response to the allegations was vague and lacked detail, claiming his extensive professional experience spoke for itself. David also expressed concern that the Authority's inquiry was not objective but related to his role as chairman and the Authority's criticism of his activities. He cited insufficient time to provide a full response.

The Channel 12 investigation, by Yossi Mizrahi, detailed several discrepancies. David claimed to have been CFO of a company called Migdalit, but failed to mention its prosecution for illegal employment of foreign workers and its bankruptcy due to NIS 50 million in debts. He also claimed credit for initiating projects in Kiryat Motzkin and a non-existent promenade, which were already underway or did not exist. Further, his tenure as CEO of Bat Yam Economic Company and Ashkelon Municipality was scrutinized, with questions raised about his actual responsibilities versus his claims.

Crucially, David established a private company, IDY, in 2024, which he claimed managed NIS 4 billion in assets and employed 320 people. This company's formation appears to have been critical for him to meet the required "management years" for the Ayalon Highways chairmanship. However, Channel 12 reported finding no evidence of the company's existence at the addresses provided.