On Sunday, the government approved the appointment of Chaney Merom as the special project manager for the rehabilitation of the North. The projecter is supposed to be responsible for including all government systems, authorities and offices for the purpose of rehabilitating evacuated northern communities, as well as the other areas affected in the front with Hezbollah during the war. Of course, the war is still underway, and perhaps the most powerful part of the northern front is still ahead of us – but already at this stage it is important to assist the unevacuated residents, as well as for the tens of thousands of evacuees located throughout the country, who are going to enter a second year outside of their homes (which will especially affect the students, and small and local business owners).
Major General Eliezer ‘Chaney’ Merom served in the IDF for many decades, serving as Navy Commander from 2007 to 2011. Even after his release from the IDF, Cheney remained active in the security arena, and joined the “securitists” organization affiliated with the political-security right wing. In addition, Cheney served as Chairman of the Airports Authority from 2015 to 2018, and is considered close to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
This proximity almost prevented his appointment, and at least delayed it for a significant period of time – when Cheney was defined as having a “conflict of interest” with Prime Minister Netanyahu, due to the joint charges against them in the “submarine affair” – although both found evidence that acquitted them of serious charges. This prevented Netanyahu from appointing Chaney himself, and required government approval, which is currently being given. Merom himself testified that “I am waiting for decisions, and as soon as they pass, I will storm the work. I have a lot of motivation as someone who knows the north well and was born in Moshav Sde Eliezer and his family live in the Galilee.” Hopefully, Cheney will succeed in his new role.
