4 years after the great disaster in which 45 people were killed in the Rashbi's Ahilat in Meron - and it seems that the lessons really haven't been learned: Journalist Omri Maniv revealed on Channel 12 that in recent days Avshalom Ohayon, a Shas activist, was elected to the position of CEO of the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, the person responsible, among other things, for the site in Meron, despite receiving low scores on the aptitude tests.
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Avshalom Abarsha Ohayon is a veteran and well-known Shas activist and a prominent field figure for the party, very close to Chairman Aryeh Deri. He is considered someone who knows how to energize voters in elections and is known as "Aryeh Deri's Tanzim activist.".
According to the report, he was chosen last week even though it is not at all clear whether he is suitable for the position. Ohayon does not speak English, but holds a bachelor's degree from Kiryat Ono College. He did not present any experience in the relevant field in his resume, and in the management section he wrote that in his last position he served as vice president of Yossi Shinover's non-profits, which the Ministry of Justice announced last month that it was considering dissolving, due to concerns about improper use of donations and the smuggling of assets into private hands.
Opposing Ohayon were, among others, the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Moshe Mor Yosef, and the former head of the Jerusalem Cemeteries Council, Lt. Col. (res.) Hillel Horowitz, who has much more impressive experience.
Horowitz also scored high on Pilat's reasoning tests. Ohayon scored low on these tests.
Just before the selection committee met, the finance representative was replaced, and two of the three committee members were representatives of the Ministry of Religious Services. Both of them, coincidentally, gave Ohyon very high marks.
According to the report on Channel 12, in the coming days the material will be transferred to the Registrar of Companies, where they will review the eligibility of the appointment.
Just a year ago, the State Investigation Committee determined that the former director general of the Center for the Development of Holy Places, Yossi Schwinger, who is also very close to Deri, bears great responsibility for the Meron disaster. Schwinger was forced to resign immediately.
Is it also this time, in a position that has a bloody price, that what determines it is loyalty to the party chairman?
Avshalom Ohayon chose not to respond to the article.
The Ministry of Religious Services' response: "The Minister of Religious Services and the Ministry's Director General are not involved in the appointment process, which is managed under the supervision of the Government Companies Authority. The Ministry is obligated by law to appoint two representatives on behalf of the Ministry, and this was done. We are confident that the process was carried out without any defect and in accordance with instructions and procedures.".
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