Top Treasury official working with Miri Regev quits

• Published date: 15 March 2023
• Publication title: Globes (Rishon LeZion, Israel)

Over the past three years, Melzer has been responsible in the Ministry of Finance budget division for Israel Railways, developing roads and managing transport demand. Under his authority various reforms were being conducted such as the five year program for improving public transport and the Greater Tel Aviv congestion charge, the form on parking fees, the development of railway operations, and the strategic plan for Israel's highways

Over the past few months the departure of many senior civil servants from government offices has been attributed to work with Minister of Transport Miri Regev's office because the lack of professionals, and the exclusion of those who do exist, results in an absence of professional decision-making.

Last week, Shai Kedem, head of the Ministry of Transport's infrastructure division, one of the most senior and respected figures in the ministry, quit. Before that both Public Transportation Authority head Ran Shadmi, who was responsible for a NIS 12 billion budget, and Elias Matar, head of the Railways Division, both resigned. These departures followed the resignation of Israel Airports Authority CEO Hagai Topolansky, who claimed political interference in managing the ministry, and Metro authority legal advisor...