Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Netanyahu pushing for Fischer as president
Prime minister discussing matter with senior Likud officials, other forums; advocating appointment as imperative, stressing Bank of Israel governor's crucial contribution to Israel's economy
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
is pushing for the nomination of Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer as Israel's
next president.
Fischer, who was American Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's thesis advisor, was chief economist at the World Bank and until 2001 was vice chairman of Citigroup and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund.
Calcalist has learned that Netanyahu is discussing the matter with senior officials of the Likud party and in various forums, and advocating the appointment as imperative, stressing Fischer's crucial contribution to Israel's economy in his years as Bank of Israel governor.
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Last year, Fischer applied for the position of IMF chairman but was disqualified due to his age. In May 2005, he was appointed for his first tenure at the Bank of Israel and in 2010 was reappointed to the position which is to end in 2014 – just as Israel's President Shimon Peres ends his term.
Although Fischer garnered support among Israel's business community in the past, such a nomination may elicit criticism stemming from the fact that Fischer only moved to Israel in 2005 when appointed central bank governor and is regarded as an American rather than an Israeli.
Other potential candidates, such as Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, are expected to object to the nomination. The Prime Minister's Office declined comment.
Bank of Israel responded that neither the bank not the governor had any knowledge of the matter.
Click here to read this report in Hebrew
