Quality Gov't Movement to Mazuz: Leave Zelekha alone

Stop interfering with Yaron Zelekha and the state comptroller's injunction protecting him from ouster, the Movement for Quality Government wrote to Attorney General Meni Mazuz yesterday. Meanwhile, Zelekha is forging ahead: yesterday the accountant general cum anti-graft warrior issued a circular to all ministries, saying that from January 1, 2008, they won't be able to pay any government companies or authorities for anything unless there's a formal, signed contract in place following a proper tender process.

Regarding Mazuz, Quality Government argues that he's in a possible conflict of interest because his sister, Yemima Mazuz, may be involved in problems with Bank Leumi's privatization, and in attempts to end Zelekha's term with his contract.

Last month Finance Minister Roni Bar-On advised Zelekha that he wouldn't be extending his contract beyond October 2007, leading State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss to issue an injunction protecting Zelekha from ouster. Zelekha argued that his position is not one limited by contract and that he can't be thrown out without cause. Top treasury officials have however banded together against him, claiming that he's so abrasive they can't work with him.

Lindenstrauss for his part extended protection to Zelekha on the ground that he's allegedly being persecuted because he blew the whistle on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's reportedly improper attempts to skew Bank Leumi's sale in favor of his friends, who ultimately bowed out of the race.