Less than 24 hours after the resignation of Ministry of Finance director general Keren Terner, Minister of Finance Israel Katz has responded to the severe criticism to which he has been subjected, in a detailed post on his Facebook page.
"The resignation has no connection to the budget or to the policy and the running of the Ministry of Finance," Katz writes, adding, "I shan't comment on gossip in the name of associates and to self-interested attacks in the media." The minister of finance adds that so far he has managed to pass all the main decisions that he initiated, "including a full continuation budget for 2020" that enables government ministries to continue working. Katz also mentions the economic safety net to help the unemployed, the self-employed and business owners "amounting to NIS 90 million". "It is no coincidence that there are no demonstrations arising from the economic aid," the minister adds.
In his post, Katz tries to calm the political storm aroused by Terner's resignation, and says he will appoint an acting director general, and that a permanent appointment will be made shortly. Katz also comments on the resignation of Accountant General Rony Hizkiyahu, saying that Yaheli Rotenberg will shortly be appointed to replace him. "The resignation of the accountant general, whom I esteem highly, is for his own personal reasons, and an excellent replacement has already been decided upon, and he will soon be appointed."
Besides Terner and Hizkiyahu, Shaul Meridor also resigned recently from the Ministry of Finance senior echelon. Meridor was head of the Budgets Division.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on October 12, 2020
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