Ariel Council Member Oren Hazan Criticizes Process for Appointing City Rabbi

Oren Hazan, a member of Ariel's city council, has publicly criticized the procedure for selecting the city rabbi, emphasizing that his opposition is not to the appointment itself or any candidate, but to the way the process is managed. Hazan argues that the current method does not reflect the political balance within the city council and violates principles of proper governance. He insists that the selection committee's composition should mirror the council's power distribution, a requirement he says has been ignored.

Hazan highlights that Ariel currently lacks a functioning religious council, with decisions being made by a single appointed official, leading to significant decisions and public funds being handled without broad representation or oversight. He claims the current process attempts to bypass the council's electoral results and excludes opposition voices from nominating public representatives. Hazan stresses his preference for a rabbi connected to Ariel, ideally a local resident, and opposes appointments based on political deals or commitments unrelated to public interest.

Responding to accusations that he is stalling the appointment through political connections, Hazan denies involvement with the Likud party in this matter and notes that the appointment process in Judea and Samaria is managed differently by the Ministry of Religious Services. He also mentions ongoing legal challenges, stating courts have directed petitioners to pursue administrative channels, and that any legal violations would have surfaced during these proceedings.

Hazan attributes the conflict partly to internal disputes among local groups competing to promote different candidates, describing himself as a pawn used for political spin. He calls for a transparent and lawful process that fairly represents all sides, inviting dialogue to resolve the issue properly. He further criticizes the city mayor for weak leadership and failing to advance key municipal areas, accusing him of shifting blame and making political compromises at residents' expense.