Avner Flor, Ally of Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Set to Chair Israel Railways

On Monday evening, the Government Companies Appointment Committee approved Avner Flor's appointment to the Israel Railways board, with his chairmanship expected to be confirmed by the board soon. Flor, considered a close associate of Transportation Minister Miri Regev, will replace outgoing chairman Moshe Shimoni, who was appointed chairman of Mekorot. Flor will have to resign as acting CEO of Israel Railways, a position vacant for 11 months, with no successor named yet.

Flor has extensive experience in the Ministry of Transportation, including serving as director of the Infrastructure Administration. During the period when Regev prepared for Moshe Ben Zaken's appointment as ministry CEO, Flor acted as interim CEO, helping Ben Zaken gain managerial experience. In December 2024, Regev attempted to appoint Flor as chairman of the Airports Authority, but the move failed amid concerns about his political ties to Regev. In April 2025, the appointment committee approved Flor as interim chairman of the Airports Authority for a limited three-month term.

Following the failed Airports Authority appointment, Regev promoted Flor to deputy CEO of Israel Railways. This led the Civil Service Commission to reduce his cooling-off period from one year to seven months, allowing a quicker transition. After the resignation of CEO Shiko Zhanna, Flor replaced deputy CEO Avi Almaliah as acting CEO when Almaliah took extended leave in March. Flor has remained in this role since, although he has not participated in the CEO recruitment processes, preferring to avoid political entanglements and focus on advancing Israel Railways.

Despite his close association with Regev, Flor is widely respected for his professional capabilities and experience in transportation. His joining Israel Railways last year was welcomed by many professionals as a significant managerial boost. Industry insiders expressed satisfaction with his appointment to the board, noting his leadership in advancing key projects such as the future electrification tender and other major initiatives.