Belying earlier reports, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel Prof. Zvi Eckstein is the preferred candidate for governor, at least among Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close advisers - National Economic Council chairman Eugene Kandel (who declined the post in fear of public exposure) and Prime Minister's Office director general Harel Locker.
Also belying reports, Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, whose name had been mentioned as a candidate, and was considered an influential party in the Prime Minister's Bureau, is not a supporter of Prof. Mario Blejer. Although both men were born and raised in the same neighborhood in Cordoba, Argentina, they have no more than a passing acquaintanceship.
Netanyahu's aides reportedly consider Eckstein as the "inside man", who is familiar with the government, and is therefore perceived as a "safer" alternative. Other sources say that the situation resembles a whirlpool. "Once it's one man and then it's the other (Blejer). What is sure, the job is in no one's pocket," said a source.
Netanyahu's aides reportedly realize that Eckstein should be presented together with other candidates, who will draw headlines, as is already the case with Blejer. "It's not that they don’t want Blejer, but Kandel and Locker prefer Eckstein. If they discover skeletons in Eckstein's closet, they'll be happy to appoint Blejer," a source involved in the process told "Globes".
The reason for anxiety over Eckstein's candidacy is that he has accumulated many enemies at his workplaces, including Tel Aviv University (which he unexpectedly left), and at the Bank of Israel. He was also involved in the embarrassing incident, when he sent his CV to IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. (TASE:IDBH), controlled by Nochi Dankner, for the post of director, on paper with the Bank of Israel logo. Eckstein denied the story, saying that his office routinely sent out his resume.
But a top Bank of Israel source says, "This is a simple story. Eckstein's office manager sent the CV after he (Eckstein) told her to do it. So it's correct that he didn’t send it, but she did, but it was obviously at his initiative."
Eckstein's candidacy is a surprise in itself, especially after former Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer refused to renew his term as deputy, and their relationship ran aground. If Eckstein is appointed as governor, it will be a blow to Fischer.
Sources inform ''Globes'' that that Netanyahu and Fischer's relations have chilled, after Fischer strongly urged Netanyahu to appoint Karnit Flug as governor and his campaign against Netanyahu after he steadfastly refused to do so.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 12, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013