Head of PM's Carmel fire task force quits

After local council heads refuse to cooperate with her, Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg resigns as head of team of experts in charge of addressing needs of residents affected by wildfire

Reuters | Published: 12.08.10, 11:51

Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg, who was appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to head a team of experts in charge of aiding residents affected by the Carmel wildfire, decided to resign from the special position only two days later.

Feirberg, who was defined as "head of the prime minister's special task force", sent a letter of resignation to Netanyahu's Office after her appointment was criticized by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and after local council heads in the Carmel region refused to cooperate with her.

"While touring the communities affected by the Carmel fire I received the impression that Eyal Gabai, director-general of the Prime Minister's Office was in full control of the rehabilitation effort with the complete cooperation of all government ministries' directors and the different bodies," Feirberg wrote in her letter.

"Therefore, at this stage, I see no room for further intervention on my part," she added. "I thank you for your faith in me and will be at your service in the future for any requested mission. If your decision to appoint an external body to handle the rehabilitation efforts still stands, I believe this body should be provided with government authorities which would enable a full budgetary autonomy, subject to all regular procedures."

'Nothing personal'

On Tuesday, Feirberg arrived with Gabai and other ministries' director-generals for a meeting in the Carmel region, but the council heads banned her entry. The Prime Minister's Office plans to continue the task force's operation, although it's unclear who will head it now.

The Prime Minister's Office said in response that Netanyahu thanked Feirberg for her willingness to help and expressed his regret with her decision. The prime minister "ensured that initial aid for residents whose house was burned, totaling NIS 2,500 (about $690) per person, has been transferred to the local authorities and received by more than 100 residents so far."

Carmel Coast Regional Council officials expressed their satisfaction with Feirberg's decision. "This is nothing personal against Feirberg, but we don't need mediators who only complicate procedures," one of them said. "We are now busy returning the evacuated residents to normal life as soon as possible."