As the year comes to a close, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has been busy finalizing new government appointments. Attorney Harel Locker has been officially appointed the director-general of the Prime Minister's Office and Shaul Goldstein has been named the new director of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Locker was chosen to head the office four months after the premature resignation of his predecessor, Eyal Gabai, from the key post. Lockers appointment was made possible after he signed a conflict-of-interest agreement about his previous dealings as an attorney and to the fact that his older brother, Maj. Gen. Yohanan Locker, is Netanyahu's military secretary, a senior post in the PMO. Yohanan Locker, however, may soon be leaving the position as he is one of the leading candidates for the command of the Israel Air Force. Harel Locker possesses a wealth of experience in dealing with the various government ministries and specializes in a range of legal areas including tax law, corporate law, real estate and infrastructures, mergers and acquisitions, high-tech and venture capital and international transactions. In 2007, Locker became a senior partner with the Israeli law firm of S. Friedman & Co., one of Israel's leading commercial law practices. Locker also worked for the Wall Street law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson. He is a member of both the Israel and New York State bar associations. Netanyahu praised Locker, saying, "Harel possesses a rare combination of extraordinary traits. Here is an example of a man who succeeded in the private sector but felt a duty to serve the public. This type of duty is welcome and important thing for the state of Israel." The cabinet also unanimously approved the appointment of Goldstein to head the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, following the recommendation of Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan. Goldstein, formerly a senior official in the Yesha Council (the umbrella bodies of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria), will be replacing Eli Amitai, and is expected to take up the post on Dec. 21. Erdan defended his recommendation, saying, "Goldstein stood out as an exceptional candidate and I am pleased that he will be manning such an important position."
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שיתוף כתבה
Cabinet appoints new PMO director-general
Experienced attorney Harel Locker named head of Prime Ministers Office • Locker signs conflict-of-interest agreement to enable him to take position • Shaul Goldstein, formerly of Yesha Council, appointed new Israel Nature and Parks Authority director.