Another abandonment in the Prime Minister's OfficeFarah Lerner, Benjamin Netanyahu's close advisor and the person responsible for the connection between the Prime Minister's Office and the Knesset, is about to leave the First Office to move to work alongside the Minister of Absorption and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin - as Director General. The Office of Absorption.
The Minister of Absorption has already submitted Lerner's candidacy to the Civil Service Commission's appointments committee.
Lerner, one of the most powerful women in the Knesset in particular and in the corridors of government in general, is the veteran advisor in the Prime Minister's office and is considered his executive woman: she is the one who whispers in the Prime Minister's ear, is responsible for the relationship with Knesset members and ministers, prevents dirty tricks, and is the one who urges coalition members to vote to Netanyahu's satisfaction.
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Her departure, amid disappointment over not being promoted in the cabinet, is a blow to the prime minister. In addition to Elkin abandoning the position of coalition chairman in favor of the position of minister, he is losing another important stronghold in the Knesset, especially given the fragile coalition.
Lerner, 38, who is married to media consultant Avi Lerner, was born in Ashdod with the name Farah Elimelech, to a father who worked at the port and a mother who was a seamstress.
She began her career in the public arena in 2001, as an assistant to Zevulun Orlev while he was serving as a MK. When he was appointed Minister of Welfare in Sharon's government, she continued in his office.
When the Kadima government came to power in 2006, she joined the Minister of Public Security, Avi Dichter, then a senior member of the party, and became his advisor.
Three years later, when Netanyahu won the 2009 elections, she moved to work alongside him. Now, after six years at the bureau - one of the most complex workplaces in Israel - she is moving to a different field, this time as CEO.
Her husband, Avi, owns the public relations firm Lerner-Com, which provides, among other things, PR services to the Makor Rishon newspaper, which is owned by Israel Hayom.
