Appointment of Esther Schreiber as Antiquities Authority CEO is rejected

A government appointments committee led by retired judge Shulamit Doton has rejected Esther Schreiber’s appointment as director general of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The committee said the tender’s minimum qualifications were set below what the law requires, so the selection process that chose Schreiber was invalid. Doton informed Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu of the decision.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attacked the ruling, saying, “The real reason, not fit for the deep state, is a religious female CEO with a headscarf. Tell us more about how much you ‘hurt’ over the absence of women in the civil service...” Eliyahu had announced Schreiber’s appointment last month.

The Heritage Ministry said Schreiber had served as CEO of INEXTG Group, managed annual budgets of about 100 million shekels, and led an organization of about 700 employees. It said she also handled complex projects in construction, preservation, and procurement worth tens of millions of shekels, and oversaw digital and operational innovation. The ministry added that she holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish history and cognitive science from the Hebrew University, won the Stern Prize for excellence in Second Temple studies, and has a master’s degree in public administration and policy from the University of Haifa.

Archaeologists reacted angrily to the nomination and petitioned the High Court of Justice, arguing she lacks relevant experience. Prof. Aaron Maeir of Bar-Ilan University said many in the archaeological community were unhappy because she appeared to have been chosen for nonprofessional reasons, and he noted that the authority manages an annual budget of about 600 million to 700 million shekels. He also said the top candidates were people with suitable backgrounds, and that the feeling was the minister wanted someone “to do the minister’s bidding.”

Israel’s Archaeological Council also strongly opposed the appointment. In a letter from its chairman, Dr. Guy Stiebel, to Israel Antiquities Authority Council chairman Prof. Yehoshua Schwartz, the council said the other candidates had far stronger qualifications, including one archaeologist with field and security experience and another with an archaeology degree, military background, and senior public-sector posts. It said appointing either of them would not have triggered opposition.