Professor Yaron Zelekha's Salary at Ono Academic College Doubled Over Seven Years

Professor Yaron Zelekha, former Accountant General and a political partner of Yoaz Hendel, has earned a gross total of 14.3 million shekels from Ono Academic College over the past seven years, up to 2025. This figure is derived from the college's annual reports to the Registrar of Associations, which detail the salaries of the top five earners. In 2023, Zelekha's salary reached 2.43 million shekels, averaging approximately 203,000 shekels per month, making him the second-highest earner at the institution, ahead of the college's CEO.

Zelekha, listed as a full-time senior academic staff member, has appeared on the list of top earners since 2017, except for 2018. His annual salary in 2017 was 1,104,154 shekels, placing him fifth. From 2019 onwards, his salary saw a consistent annual increase: 1.59 million shekels in 2019, 1.89 million in 2020, 1.95 million in 2021, and 2.07 million in 2022. A significant jump of 17.2% occurred in 2023, bringing his salary to 2,430,651 shekels. Since 2020, Zelekha has earned more than the college's CEO, Ranan Hartman, with the gap reaching 465,000 shekels in 2023. Only one other staff member earned more that year, with 2.6 million shekels.

Despite establishing the New Economic Party and running in the March 2021 elections, Zelekha was reported to be employed full-time for 12 months in 2021, earning 1.95 million shekels. His salary remained stable at 2.41 million shekels in 2024. However, in 2025, his salary decreased by 17.5% to 1,988,562 shekels, and he dropped to third place on the list, though the reports do not explain this decline.

This salary reduction for Zelekha coincided with a strong financial year for the college, which reported a 10.7% increase in revenue to 555 million shekels and more than doubled its annual surplus to 30.6 million shekels. The college, which relies almost entirely on tuition fees, saw its overall salary expenses rise by 9.3%. Zelekha's salary constituted 0.6% of these total expenses. Meanwhile, the college's cash reserves, deposits, and short-term investments nearly doubled, though it also carries 198 million shekels in long-term bank loans.

In addition to his academic role, Zelekha has worked as a paid economic consultant, primarily for employee committees, including advising the Noga employees' committee and former Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn. Ono Academic College declined to comment on faculty salaries, while Zelekha stated he would accept a significant income reduction if elected to the Knesset, driven by a sense of public duty to combat the high cost of living. While Zelekha and the college spokesperson did not confirm his current employment status, inquiries suggest he continues his role. Sources at the college indicated that legal provisions allow his continued employment for six months if elected, though Knesset legal counsel guidelines advise ceasing additional occupations as soon as possible.