AG to comptroller: Allow cabinet to dismiss accountant general
Last week treasury's senior echelon called for accountant general's immediate dismissal over harmful work relations.
By Yuval Yoaz Tags: Menachem MazuzAttorney General Menachem Mazuz on Thursday wrote to State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss asking to him to reverse an order that prevents the cabinet from dismissing Accountant General Yaron Zelekha from his position.
Mazuz cited as the reason for his request the express positions of Finance Ministry Director General Yarom Ariav and other senior treasury officials, who last week held a press conference calling for Zelekha's immediate dismissal.
Ariav said at the press conference that Zelekha's conduct was "severely harming the productivity of the ministry, and consequently the economy of Israel." Ariav's remarks were a direct response to the order issued the previous day by Lindenstrauss preventing the cabinet from appointing a replacement for Zelekha.
In his letter, Mazuz quoted Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer as saying that Zelekha's continued employment in the position of accountant general is endangering Israel's economy. Mazuz added that the problematic professional relationships between Zelekha and other senior treasury officials have been building over a long period of time.
Zelekha uncovered the Bank Leumi affair involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and is considered a steadfast fighter against government corruption. Lindenstrauss issued the order protecting him from dismissal because of his role in "exposing corruption."
Lindenstrauss responded to Mazuz's request by saying he would consider the recommendation and make a decision on the matter by November 15.
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Accountant General Yaron Zelekha. (Haim Taragan) |
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Fire is never far away from smoke. All the howls frm the entire top echelon of the Finance Ministry about Zelicha say pretty clearly that something really stinks badly in the ministry.
Unless every senior economic civil servant is corrupt except for Zelicha, then Zelicha is a egomaniac who is undermining the workings of our government. he may make good comedic press and feed those who hat Olmert for various political reasons, but at some point sanity must rule and get rid of this guy. By the way, the irony is that the personal enmity of Lindenstrauss to Olmert (which is obvious from his body language at every meeting, is exactly the conflict of interest which should have precluded his involvement in the Zelicha affair and is exactly what he and Zelicha are attacking Olmert for in his dealings as Minister of Trade. As the famous song goes...don't spit into the wind...
Do not stop the work that will get those wretched crooks in government out of our lives.