Report: Livni in Running for Jewish Agency Job

Former foreign minister Tzipi Livni is in the running to be the next head of the Jewish Agency, according to The Times of Israel on Wednesday.

The news comes a day after Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern withdrew his candidacy in the wake of his disclosure that he had shredded complaints about misconduct in the IDF when he was head of the manpower branch.

Livni downplayed the story but didn’t directly deny it.

“I don’t know what the source of the report is,” she told The Jerusalem Post. “For years, I have not responded to theoretical reports about me, and I will not do so now either.”

Haaretz quoted sources saying that Livni has been asked to consider the matter by members of the Jewish Agency’s governing board.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Yair Lapid asked the nominating committee for more time to pick a new candidate to replace Stern, a member of his Yesh Atid party whom he had backed. The decision is currently scheduled for October 24.

Lapid is “interested in Livni running for the position,” the ToI said.

Yamina MK Yom-Tov Kalfon, who is considered the most right-wing MK in the coalition, said he could live with the left-wing Livni in the post.

“I would much rather have her helping bring immigrants from around the world than heading a negotiating team with the Palestinians,” he said.

The reported list of candidates makes a formidable group: former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, who currently serves as World Likud chairman; former Likud MK Uzi Dayan; former Kulanu MK and former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren; former Blue and White minister Omer Yankelevich,; the head of ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, Irina Nevzlin, who is married to Likud MK Yuli Edelstein; Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats; Yerushalayim Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.