Interior Minister Gideon Saar Seeks to Replace Planning Council Chief

Interior Minister Gideon Saar has moved to appoint Israel Ozan, director-general of the ministry, as the temporary acting head of the National Planning Bureau and chairman of the National Planning and Building Council.

According to reports, Ozan is slated to replace Adv. Benny Arbib, who was appointed to the post just four months ago on July 15, 2026, following approval by the appointments committee chaired by retired Judge Shlomit Dotan. Notably, Ozan himself signed off on Arbib's appointment at the time in his capacity as ministry director-general. Arbib previously served as deputy head of the National Planning Bureau and acting chairman of the council.

Saar has not yet provided a justification for the sudden replacement. The move comes just days after the government approved Saar's appointment as interior minister on November 11, in addition to his ongoing role as foreign minister in the transitional government.

The decision unfolds against the backdrop of strict limitations governing senior appointments during a transitional government. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has repeatedly reminded ministers of the duty of restraint following elections, urging them to avoid irreversible decisions that could tie the hands of an incoming administration.

While legal guidelines do not outright prohibit senior appointments during a transitional period, temporary acting positions must be thoroughly justified by operational necessity and vetted by the Civil Service Commission, raising questions regarding the circumstances behind replacing an active chairman without a stated rationale.