Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has abruptly dropped his support for former minister and current Israeli consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, in the race to chair Keren Hayesod, and is now backing Eli Hazan, Israel’s former ambassador to Singapore. Hazan, who until recently served in Singapore, was also considered Netanyahu’s candidate for head of the Government Press Office.
The shift comes after delays in the appointment process at the search committee for the Keren Hayesod chair. The 12-member panel includes six representatives from abroad and six from Israel. The overseas members unanimously supported Akunis, but disagreement among the Israeli members stalled the process. People involved in the matter say former Likud MK Osnat Mark was also operating behind the scenes because she wants the Keren Hayesod CEO post and feared Akunis would not appoint her.
Netanyahu also reversed course on naming his adviser Caroline Glick as consul general in New York, replacing Akunis. That decision was made for two reasons, according to the report, first, the understanding that Akunis would need to remain in New York, and second, strong opposition from Reform movement figures to Glick’s candidacy because of her past remarks against Reform Jews.
The change was revealed in a letter Netanyahu sent on the 18th to Bruce Leboff, a member of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors who oversees, on behalf of diaspora Jews, the selection of the next Keren Hayesod chair. In the letter, Netanyahu said, “Dear Mr. Leboff, Ambassador Eli Vered Hazan is my sole candidate for chairman of Keren Hayesod. I am certain that under his leadership, Keren Hayesod will achieve great things. This letter supersedes any previous correspondence from me on this matter. I trust you will continue and expedite the leadership transition to ensure the proper and continuous functioning of Keren Hayesod.”
Akunis is not giving up and is insisting that the vote on his appointment continue. His associates said Netanyahu had offered him the job and he accepted, adding that all Keren Hayesod representatives abroad voted for him unanimously. They accused some Likud representatives in the Zionist institutions of joining opposition and left-wing parties to block the appointment for political reasons and to harm the prime minister. According to other people involved, Netanyahu’s abandonment of Akunis caused backstage turmoil, with one saying, “Bibi and Sara simply threw Akunis under the bus,” while another said Akunis is furious and determined to keep the vote going.
