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Photo: Motti Kimchi
David Bitan and PM Netanyahu
Photo: Motti Kimchi

With Jewish Agency leadership up for grabs, Bitan eyes ministerial post

As Natan Sharansky prepares to vacate chairmanship of Jewish Agency in June 2018, Likud officials tout Minister Yuval Steinitz as his successor, finally giving Netanyahu the opportunity to reward loyalty demonstrated by coalition chair David Bitan by promoting him to a ministerial position.

The race to fill the position of Chairman of the Jewish Agency is set to intensify in the coming months, with Energy and Water Resources Minister Yuval Steinitz slated to replace the incumbent head Natan Sharansky, whose term expires in June 2018.

 

 

Steinitz’s possible departure from his ministerial position would make way for the promotion of Coalition Chairman and Netanyahu loyalist David Bitan, giving him the break he has now coveted for some time.

 

But with Steinitz as the reported frontrunner, the handsome monthly salary that accompanies the prestigious position of chairman of the Jewish Agency—NIS 55,866 ($15,535)—is likely to ensure that the minister will not be appointed without a fight against other prominent contenders.

 

David Bitan with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
David Bitan with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
 

 

They include Mayor of Ma'ale Adumim Benny Kashriel, former ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, who has also received the backing of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Chairman of the Keren Hayesod Eliezer Sandberg, who was touted to fill the position by Netanyahu in the past.

 

Nevertheless, according to officials in the Likud, Steinitz represents the most likely candidate to replace Sharansky and figures within the party have been urging him to accept the position if offered.

 

Only a few weeks ago, Steinitz stated his position on the matter, flatly rejecting the suggestion. However, the party officials claim that his stance has since changed with Steinitz now considering the possibility, adding that he has yet to dismiss the idea out of hand.

 

Steinitz next to Natan Sharansky
Steinitz next to Natan Sharansky

 

With the firebrand Bitan increasingly becoming recognized for being one of Netanyahu’s closest associates, efforts are being made to promote him to a position reflecting his repeatedly demonstrated loyalty.

 

Just a few months ago Bitan, whose vociferous support for his boss and brash style has helped him carve out a reputation as a democratic strongman rather than a mere party whip, predicted that he would be appointed as a minister before the expiration of the Netanyahu's current term leading the nation.

 

Yuval Steinitz (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Yuval Steinitz (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

 

The removal of Steinitz from the equation would finally provide Netanyahu the opportunity to reciprocate the loyalty shown by his ideological treasure.

 

Steinitz’s chances of succeeding Sharansky were also significantly increased by the enthusiastic endorsement by the Jewish Federation which views him as a moderate voice capable of engaging in a dialogue with international Jewry.

 

Bitan at a recent rally in support of Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Bitan at a recent rally in support of Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
 

 

Indeed, Steinitz was one of the ministers who voiced his objections to the cancelation of the Kotel compromise, warning it would inevitably rupture relations with American Jewry and may even lead to full-on crisis.

 

Sharansky, who has served as the Jewish Agency chairman since 2009 at Netanyahu’s behest, was supposed to wrap up his term last June, but made a last-minute agreement to remain in the job for another year.

 

While appointing a new chair only requires the consent of the prime minister, the Jewish Federation is also supposed to provide a symbolic imprimatur lending approval to his choice. For the time being though, Steinitz said in a statement Thursday that the matter was “not on the agenda at the moment.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.25.17, 11:53
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