The Accountant General: Burden of public corruption nearly as severe as the defense burden.
“The attempt to manipulate the Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI) tender was the worst case of corruption in Israel’s history. The tender revealed serious failures in the rule of law,” Accountant General Dr. Yaron Zelekha told the Knesset lobby against public corruption, chaired by MK Arieh Eldad (National Union-National Religious Party).
Zelekha warned that corrupt political, public, and legal officials had managed to undermine the gatekeepers in the war against corruption. He added that public corruption was a heavy burden on the economy and the country. “The burden of public corruption is almost as severe as the defense burden. I’m saying this as the Accountant General of the State of Israel, who fully understands what an economic burden is,” he said.
Zelekha cited elements of the anti-corruption campaign, including:
- The creation of a deterrence system;
- Improved transparency, separation of powers, the strengthening of agencies, and the reduction in their politicization;
- Strengthening the State Comptroller and rotating controllers at ministries;
- Disclosure of conflict of interests;
- Requiring all senior civil servants to file statements of capital.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 19, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007