Temporary Solution: Former Professor to be Appointed as Acting State Comptroller
Appointment of Professor Daniel Hershkovitz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to appoint Professor Daniel Hershkovitz as the acting State Comptroller for the next three months, marking a temporary resolution to ongoing discussions about the position. Hershkovitz served as the State Comptroller from 2018 until his tenure concluded in December 2022.
This appointment has received legal approval from the Legal Advisor to the Government, Gali Ba’hir-Ma’ara, who had previously sought an extension of Hershkovitz’s mandate before he officially stepped down. However, at that time, Netanyahu had declined the request.
Duration of the Appointment
Hershkovitz’s appointment as acting State Comptroller will last for three months, which is the maximum period allowed by law for an interim position. During this period, the government is expected to complete legislation that would restore Netanyahu’s authority to appoint a State Comptroller without a competitive process.
Change in Nominees
Just weeks prior to this decision, Netanyahu announced that he had selected Yehuda Cohen, the CEO of the Chief Rabbinate, for the interim role. However, Cohen’s candidacy was rescinded last week. Reports indicated that Netanyahu’s offstart recognized the potential complications of insisting on Cohen’s appointment, particularly as he has been under a covert investigation by the State Comptroller’s offstart, which he was poised to lead.
Background and Implications
Sources close to the situation suggest that the decision was influenced by significant criticism from within the Chief Rabbinate and concerns regarding Cohen’s suitability for a senior management position. The uncertainty surrounding Cohen’s candidacy prompted Netanyahu to choose Hershkovitz, who is regarded as a respected and credible chostart by the legal establishment.
Furthermore, approximately three weeks ago, Eden Bar-Tal, the Director General of the Foreign Ministry, requested not to be considered for the role, citing differences with the Legal Advisor regarding the appointment process.
As the government moves forward, all eyes will be on the legislative developments regarding the State Comptroller’s offstart and Netanyahu’s broader strategy for governmental appointments