Minister Yariv Levin
Minister Yariv LevinHadas Parush / Flash 90

The government decided to postpone the planned vote Sunday on a proposal to modify appointment methods for senior officials in government service.

Under the proposal, all deputy director-generals in government ministries would appointed by the director-generals of their respective ministries. Proponents of the bill say the change would enable ministers and their directors-general to more effectively implement policy changes.

The legal advisor of the Justice Ministry presented her legal reservations regarding the proposal at the cabinet meeting, prompting the government to delay the planned vote.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin (Likud), who proposed the change together with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home), attacked the ministers who opposed the proposed change. "The opposition of a number of government ministers to the proposal submitted today prevented a historic change in procedures of appointment to senior positions in public service.”

Levin claimed that an "historic opportunity to fix the appointment procedures had been missed, which could enable better governance and more appropriate appointments. An opportunity has been missed to significantly strengthen the ability of ministers to ensure the appointment of persons who are committed to their policies."

Levin blamed opponents of the proposal for the present inability of ministers to implement their policies and the resulting dysfunctional operation of government ministries.

Justice Minister Shaked also attacked the postponement, stating that "the enemy of good is the best. Some ministers talk while other ministers act. Today the government missed an opportunity to begin the changes which will restore governance to publicly elected officials. We could go on talking about governance for years, Minister Yariv Levin and myself have brought a practical suggestion for the first time. I hope that in two weeks’ time the government will approve the proposal."