Omer Moav denies any rift with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.
Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz's advisor Prof. Omer Moav will leave his post on May 1 to spend a sabbatical abroad. He will be replaced by Dr. Avi Simhon of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Ministry of Finance announced last night.
The Ministry of Finance issued the statement is response to media reports that Moav was fired because of comments that landed Steinitz in trouble. Moav was specifically accused of speaking out against Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini and Manufacturers Association president Shraga Brosh, Steinitz's partners in the round table talks on economic affairs. Moav allegedly said that Eini and Brosh were sabotaging Israeli exports.
Rumors that Moav asked to be replaced were further reinforced because he was not seen in Ministry of Finance corridors. The reason for his absence and departure, however, is that he was badly hurt in a car accident.
Moav told "Globes", "Claims about bad feelings or a rift between me and Steinitz are utter rubbish."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 27, 2010
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