Transport Ministry Licensing Head Served Illegally for Four Years

For four years, the Licensing Department within Israel's Ministry of Transport has operated without a permanent director. A tender for the position was published this week, coinciding with Yossi Nazri, the Jerusalem district manager for the Licensing Department, completing his bachelor's degree, a prerequisite for the role. Nazri had been acting as the de facto head of the Licensing Department for four years, despite not meeting the entry requirements and, according to information obtained by TheMarker, was never officially appointed to the position. The Ministry of Transport confirmed that Nazri "never received an official appointment to the role," meaning he served without legal authority. Despite this, Nazri signed official documents as head of the Licensing Department since at least 2023, including extensions for driving examiner certificates and notices to citizens. Sources within the ministry indicate Nazri, a former employees' union chairman, is close to the ministry's management and Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, who reportedly supports him. Complaints regarding Nazri's conduct have been filed with the Civil Service Commission, which is also investigating a previous complaint about him receiving thousands of shekels monthly in salary benefits by claiming expenses for his private car while simultaneously receiving a company car.

Concerns have been raised that the recently published tender is "tailor-made" for Nazri, potentially violating principles of equal opportunity. The tender requires a recognized academic degree and six years of professional experience in policy-making or public service, with a preference for transportation-related experience. It also mandates three years of managerial experience overseeing a budget of 17 million shekels and a team of at least 25 employees. The short application deadline of November 1, 2026, has fueled suspicions of a procedural maneuver, especially given its proximity to potential Knesset elections. A complaint sent to the Civil Service Commission's director, Doron Cohen, urged the freezing of the tender process, citing a "serious concern of administrative maneuver and appointment for non-objective reasons."

The Licensing Department is crucial, overseeing driver and vehicle licensing, and is responsible for national oversight of driving schools. The department has also been involved in a scandal concerning the distribution of disabled parking permits, which saw a dramatic increase from 90,000 to 600,000 between 2020 and early 2025, leading to a police investigation. Nazri was presented as the head of the Licensing Department during a Knesset Economics Committee discussion on this matter in February 2025. When contacted, Nazri directed inquiries to the State Comptroller or the Civil Service Commission. The Ministry of Transport stated that an organizational change was planned four years ago to abolish the senior licensing director position, but it was not implemented due to disagreements with employee representatives. They also shifted responsibility for Nazri's prolonged tenure to the previous government, despite the current ministry leadership being in place for the past four years. The Civil Service Commission confirmed it never approved Nazri's acting appointment and that the position is vacant in their system. They emphasized that tender requests originate from the ministry and that tender requirements are set based on the role's demands, not potential candidates. The commission is also examining the car expense complaint.