The Movement for Quality in Government has complained to the Elections Board about a possible case of election bribery on the part of Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi. An internal Likud party newspaper recently published an article praising HaNegbi for having given over 80 members of the Likud Central Committee jobs in the Environment Ministry. The Central Committee is the body that will decide who has the best chances of becoming a Likud Knesset Member.
The article, which was unsigned, was headlined, "Minister Tzachi HaNegbi holds the national record for appointing Likud members." The body of the article states, according to Ynet, "In the Environment Ministry, the smallest of the government ministries, over 80 Likud Central Committee members have been appointed to many and sundry positions, with Minister HaNegbi personally supervising the operation and making sure that our members man all the empty positions." HaNegbi's reaction: "I plead guilty as charged. Whenever I could offer one of our members a position that matched his abilities, I asked him to apply... It's important that Likud members take responsibility and become central partners in running the country, of course on the basis of their suitability to the job... I am proud of each and every one that was appointed and brought us great pride."
Likud MK Moshe Arens, who has thrice served as Israel's Defense Minister, has withdrawn from the race for a spot on the Likud Knesset candidate list. Arens, who will be 77 later this month and who has been a Knesset Member for six (non-consecutive) terms, explained that he does not wish to have to run after Central Committee members and plead for their vote...
The article, which was unsigned, was headlined, "Minister Tzachi HaNegbi holds the national record for appointing Likud members." The body of the article states, according to Ynet, "In the Environment Ministry, the smallest of the government ministries, over 80 Likud Central Committee members have been appointed to many and sundry positions, with Minister HaNegbi personally supervising the operation and making sure that our members man all the empty positions." HaNegbi's reaction: "I plead guilty as charged. Whenever I could offer one of our members a position that matched his abilities, I asked him to apply... It's important that Likud members take responsibility and become central partners in running the country, of course on the basis of their suitability to the job... I am proud of each and every one that was appointed and brought us great pride."
Likud MK Moshe Arens, who has thrice served as Israel's Defense Minister, has withdrawn from the race for a spot on the Likud Knesset candidate list. Arens, who will be 77 later this month and who has been a Knesset Member for six (non-consecutive) terms, explained that he does not wish to have to run after Central Committee members and plead for their vote...