Despite Conflict-of-Interest Concerns, Ben Horin Appointed to Head Finance Committee

In depth

Eisenkot, Bennett, Lapid, Liberman and Golan agreed on the distribution of key roles in the new Knesset, under which Matan Kahana is slated to be Knesset speaker, Liberman to head the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Liran Avishar Ben Horin to the Finance Committee. 67 MKs recommended Eisenkot, who has already received the mandate to form a government.

Avishar Ben Horin's husband, Itai Ben Horin, is a founder of the strategic and communications consulting firm Ben Horin Alexandrovich, which among its clients represents Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Altshuler Shaham, Kal, and Strauss Group. The Finance Committee does not directly supervise these companies, but it deals with legislation and reforms that may affect them. In discussions directly concerning the firm's clients, Avishar Ben Horin will be required to declare her connection to them.

Communications Minister Karei attacked the appointment and wrote: "We will not allow relations between money and power to conquer the Knesset from within." Likud MK David Peter demanded an opinion from the Knesset legal adviser regarding the conflict-of-interest arrangement Avishar Ben Horin previously signed. Despite the protest, her appointment as acting chair of the Finance Committee was approved.