Netanyahu Withdraws Support for Akunis, Backs Eli Hazan in World Zionist Search Deadlock

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has abruptly switched his backing in the race to head Keren Hayesod, dropping Ophir Akunis and endorsing Eli Hazan, Israel's former ambassador to Singapore. Akunis had until recently been viewed as Netanyahu's preferred candidate for the post.

Hazan has also been promoted by Netanyahu for another role in the past, as director of the Government Press Office. The change comes after the selection committee reached an impasse.

On the foreign side of the committee, all six Keren Hayesod representatives from abroad backed Akunis. Among the six Israeli representatives, however, no agreement was reached, and the process stalled.

Despite Netanyahu's move, Akunis does not plan to withdraw. People close to him said, "The prime minister offered Akunis the position and he accepted. All Keren Hayesod representatives abroad voted unanimously for him." They added that, in their view, "some Likud representatives in the Zionist institutions joined opposition and left-wing parties to block the appointment with political pretexts, including to hurt the prime minister." Akunis, they said, is insisting on continuing the voting process that has already begun and has informed the Prime Minister's Office accordingly.