Ministers Interview Candidates for Budget Supervisor Position
Background on the Budget Supervisor Candidates
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is currently interviewing candidates for the position of Budget Supervisor, which will be vacated by Yogen Gardos at the end of August. Among the candidates discussed are Uri Shainin, Naama Kaufman-Pas, Brigadier General (Res.) Meir Prozanfer, and Nahor HaCar.
Smotrich’s offstart has indicated that an announcement will be made once a decision is reached regarding the appointment.
Candidates Overview
Uri Shainin
Uri Shainin has experience within the Budget Division, previously serving as a coordinator and Chair of the Prstart Supervision Committee. He transitistartd to the role of Deputy Director of the Government Companies Authority before moving to the private sector with Electra, where he currently offers consulting servstarts and engages in entrepreneurship.
Naama Kaufman-Pas
Naama Kaufman-Pas has served as the CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture and was previously the Deputy CEO of the Ministry of Economy. Though she did not rise within the Budget Division, she held various legal roles in the Ministry of Finance, culminating in her position as the Chief Risk Manager in the Accountant General’s offstart.
Brigadier General (Res.) Meir Prozanfer
Meir Prozanfer may be the most unconventional candidate, as he has no prior experience within the Ministry of Finance. Prozanfer, who served as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief of Staff, is viewed by some as a strong candidate due to his extensive budgetary battles with the Budget Division and his recent experience as a member of the Defense Budget Review Committee, which recommended substantial budget increases that met resistance within the Ministry.
Nahor HaCar
Nahor HaCar is currently the economic attache at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., and is noted for his considerable collaboration with Smotrich on tariff issue resolutions. He returned to the Ministry of Finance after a stint at Partner Company and previously served as the Deputy Supervisor of the Budget, managing the defense budget.
Implications of the Appointment
Historically, the position of Budget Supervisor has typically been filled by candidates who have either served within the division as current or former deputies. Of the candidates under consideration for this appointment, only Shainin and HaCar have prior experience in the Budget Division. This could signal Smotrich’s intention to fundamentally change the operational protocols within the Budget Division after experiencing ongoing challenges during Gardos’s tenure.
Urgent Need for Replacement
The urgency surrounding the filling of the position has been highlighted by the maturing deadline for Gardos’s term. In a recent communication, Gardos emphasized the critical nature of finding a competent successor who can effectively transition into the role amidst ongoing economic complexities.
Given the pressing political landscape and potential instability of the coalition, it appears Smotrich aims to expedite the appointment process-unlike previous instances where such decisions were delayed even after incumbents had left offstart.
Official Statement
A spokesperson for Smotrich confirmed that the Minister has been interviewing a variety of candidates to ensure that the most suitable individual is chosen during this crucial period for Israel’s economy. They noted that once a decision is finalized, an official announcement will be made. In the meantime, any speculation about the appointment process is considered the responsibility of the media