Netanyahu wants to Trump president-elect in appointments

"We also need to be able to govern," prime minister tells cabinet.

By GIL HOFFMAN
Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: REUTERS)
Benjamin Netanyahu
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a committee on Sunday to explore the possibility of enabling hundreds of appointments to governmental posts.
The committee, led by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, will immediately begin the process of changing the current system in which professional search committees are required to find candidates to fill top posts.
Netanyahu cited the current process in the United States of appointing people for posts in the administration of President- elect Donald Trump.
“For Trump, there are 4,000 personal appointments at his disposal,” he told the cabinet.
“We should have a few hundred that do not require a tender. What is certain is that with Trump, the officials will carry out his policy. We also need to be able to govern.”
Netanyahu made the comments after several ministers from multiple parties complained about how hard it is to fire and hire workers in their ministries.
The prime minister’s rivals responded by accusing him of corruption and wanting to appoint political appointees.
“Netanyahu, as usual, is thinking only of himself, his political survival and getting even more power,” Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni said. “That’s why he wants to appoint hundreds of his confidants. The public doesn’t need governability. It needs leadership with integrity and vision.”
Zionist Union MK Miki Rosenthal warned that the move would weaken the public sector. He cited a long list of former Netanyahu aides who have recently been questioned by police.
“Netanyahu has decided to make public service corrupt,” Rosenthal said. “Quality professionals just bother him, because he wants them to be loyal to him.”
The Movement for Governance and Democracy released a statement praising the prime minister’s initiative.
“Filling senior posts in public service in a manner that reflects the will of the public via whom they elected will end unnecessary bureaucracy. Implementing policies requires appointing people who are partners to the same mission,” the movement said.


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