Less than two weeks after officially taking office as world chairman of Keren Hayesod, Eli Vered Hazan is stepping aside. In an internal letter circulated to staff on Monday, Keren Hayesod Director-General Edna Weinstock Gabay announced that Hazan, who formally began his duties at the start of September, has decided to end his tenure at year’s end.
The memo noted that following “further consideration” and due to “personal and family factors,” Hazan opted to continue in his role only until December 31, 2026. Staff were also reassured that Keren Hayesod’s leadership will continue taking all necessary steps to maintain institutional stability and orderly organizational governance.
As previously revealed on Channel 14 back in April, intense behind-the-scenes power struggles surfaced around the appointment to lead Keren Hayesod. At the time, amid Ofir Akunis’s potential candidacy, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explored positioning Hazan as an alternative contender if Akunis was not chosen.
The Keren Hayesod Board of Trustees subsequently approved Hazan’s appointment unanimously. He then entered an onboarding period to succeed Sam Grundwerg, who had served as the organization’s world chairman for eight years. However, shortly after taking the reins, Monday’s unexpected announcement cut his tenure short.
Keren Hayesod’s management emphasized in the staff letter that standard daily operations will continue uninterrupted, affirming that the institution remains dedicated to executing its strategic roadmap while staying focused on its core missions and objectives.