ISRAEL
Controversy has arisen over allegations that a candidate for a powerful Israeli Public Service appointments committee made donations to a Government Minister.
The committee vets candidates for senior positions in the Public Service.
The Prime Minister’s Office said accountant Iris Stark (pictured) had no connections to any Members of the Cabinet, but journalists have obtained documents from the Office of State Comptroller, Joseph Shapira recording a donation of ILS5,000 (about A$1,870) she made to Minister for Social Equality, Gila Gamliel in 2012.
Ms Stark admitted the donation, but said she later withdrew it; however, there is no record she did so and her name still appears in the State Comptroller’s official records as a donor.
Ms Stark already holds a number of positions on public bodies, including the Advisory Council to the Lottery Commission.
She was also Chair of the Board of the Ashdod Port from 2004 to 2007, during which time the State Comptroller criticised the operations of the port’s management.
Journalists claimed that the committee that vets appointments for positions in Government companies rejected Ms Stark’s candidacy for Chair of the Board of the Public Works Authority after she provided imprecise details about her past appointments.
It is claimed she fudged a question about whether in the five previous years a State Comptroller’s report was published that might contain information relevant to her candidacy.
Jerusalem, 28 May 2018
