Jonathan Tzvikel Appointed New Legal Advisor of Israel's Competition Authority

The tender committee has appointed attorney Jonathan Tzvikel as the new legal advisor for Israel's Competition Authority, succeeding attorney Yael Sheinin, who served for five years and retired this week. Tzvikel, 45, has been deputy legal advisor in the civil-administrative division of the authority and holds degrees in law and economics from the Hebrew University. He joined the authority in 2008 as an intern and later served as a lawyer, representing the authority at the OECD and conducting research on cartels and data. He also led the legal team for six years, handling significant cases such as opposing the merger of Strauss with Weiler, imposing fines on El Al for abusing monopoly power, and opposing the El Al-Israir merger, which was eventually withdrawn.

The legal department of the Competition Authority comprises 30 lawyers working on civil and criminal cases, including investigations, merger requests, monopoly declarations, fines, and appeals before the Competition Tribunal. With Tzvikel's appointment, most government legal advisor positions are now filled, except for the Prime Minister's legal advisor role, vacant since 2025, and the National Public Transportation Authority's legal advisor position, which remains unfilled after a canceled tender in June.

This appointment comes amid ongoing regulatory activities, including the Competition Authority's recent approval of the Hot Mobile sale deal. The article also notes the broader context of legal advisory staffing in government ministries and highlights the authority's active role in competition law enforcement in Israel.