The government approved on Sunday the appointment of Israel Malachi as director-general of the Finance Ministry, following his selection by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Malachi, 49, had served over the past three and a half years as the deputy director-general of the Finance Ministry.
He is a close associate of Smotrich, which led to criticism over the appointment. Malachi also had previously served as the treasurer of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, which governs over 40 West Bank settlements.
Ilan Rom, who previously held the role of Finance Ministry director-general, resigned in March immediately after the 2026 state budget was passed in the Knesset.
The state budget was passed with large increases for defense and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education; the funding allocations for haredi institutions drew criticism.
Malachi brings extensive experience in government service, local government, the nonprofit sector, and the interfaces between them, the Finance Ministry stated. It added that Malachi also has deep familiarity with complex governmental and parliamentary processes.
The ministry also noted that Malachi led the rehabilitation efforts for communities in the Gaza border region in the South and North, and oversaw local government affairs on behalf of the Finance Ministry.
Smotrich said following the government’s approval of his appointment that Malachi “is a top-tier professional.”
“His familiarity with the ministry’s work will contribute to the work of the Finance Ministry as a whole,” he added.
“Together with the excellent management team at the ministry, he will know how to lead the work with professionalism and dedication for the success of the State of Israel and its citizens,” Smortich said.
Malachi’s candidacy was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Civil Service Commission, ahead of the government vote.
Criticism over lack of women’s representation
A member of the appointments committee, Noga Kanian, had voted against the selection of Malachi for the role, according to a Sunday KAN News report.
Kanian had argued that Smotrich did not meet the obligation to work toward adequate representation for women and claimed that Malachi does not possess any special qualifications required for the position.
Kanian also reportedly noted that the choice appeared to rely primarily on personal trust and proximity to Smotrich, rather than professional merit. According to her, the selection process did not meet proper and equitable administrative standards.
Last week, when the government approved the appointment of Doron Cohen as civil service commissioner, attorney Michal Halperin, a member of the appointments committee, also voted against the appointment, citing similar concerns over the lack of women in senior government roles.
She explained that she voted against because, in her view, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not fulfill an “active obligation to identify women for the role.”
She added that “33 director-generals are serving in the government, all 33 of them men.”
Source:
www.jpost.com
