Rafi Peled, the director-general of the Israeli Prime Minister's office, announced his resignation on Friday, reported Haaretz newspaper.
"The decision was made as a consequence of differences of opinion and disagreement between myself and the prime minister regarding the appointment of personnel who would serve under me in the office," Peled said at a press conference.
"Over time, we tried to reach an understanding on the matter, but because we didn't, I had no choice but to offer my resignation," the paper quoted him as saying.
He added: "It is clear to me, as a professional who came to do a job and contribute to the country, that a professional and good team is required. Because I was not given that team, I had to resign."
Peled and Sharon will discuss in coming days a timetable for the resignation to take effect and an orderly way of transferring his duties, said the paper.
For his part, Sharon published a statement Friday expressing regret over Peled's resignation.
In the statement, Sharon said that he had tried to dissuade Peled from resigning, but that he would honor Peled's decision.
Israel Radio reported that senior officials in Sharon’s office had said that Peled's resignation was due to disputes between the director-general and Omri Sharon, son of the prime minister, as well as Chief of Staff Uri Shani.
The sources stressed, however, that the three had worked well together at the beginning of Sharon's term of office, but that recently Peled had begun to disapprove of the way in which Omri Sharon and Shani were handling matters, and had therefore decided to resign.
The sources also emphasized that Peled had no criticism of Sharon, and that his differences of opinion were with Omri Sharon and Uri Shani.
Israel Radio reported that among the candidates to replace Peled is Herzl Getch, who currently serves in the interior ministry – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
