Prime Minister's Office director-general Avigdor Yitzhaki and Ministry of Finance budget director Uri Yogev will be business partners in providing consultancy services for projects and business activities. Each plans to operate independently.
Before taking up his post at the Prime Minister's Office, Yitzhaki was a partner in a CPA firm together with Moshe Leon CPA. He and legal counsel, Adv. Alon Gellert, signed an agreement before former Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein to freeze his partnership, in order to avoid a conflict of interests.
Yitzhaki will finish his term at the Prime Minister's Office in May. His replacement, Ilan Cohen, has not met with the senior officials appointments committee, chaired by Civil Service commissioner Shmuel Hollander.
Yogev is also leaving government service in May. His replacement, deputy budget director Kobi Haber, will take over immediately following the Passover holiday. Yogev accepted Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu's request to stay on until the Israel Ports Authority reform in completed, under a special arrangement. Yogev will then leave for a one-year cooling-off period, during which he will conduct private business.
At the director generals conference held a few days ago under the presence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ministry director generals said good-bye to Yitzhaki Yogev. Yogev said, "Between us, I intend to continue working with Avigdor [Yitzhaki].
Yithaki said in response today, "There's nothing specific. We plan to cooperate."
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on April 7, 2004