Public Diplomacy Minister Galit Distel Atbaryan resigns

Minister of Public Diplomacy Galit Distel Atbaryan (Likud) announced on Thursday evening that she has decided to resign from her post and return to the Knesset as an MK.

"At the beginning of the week, the head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate decided to appoint the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs to be responsible for the public diplomacy activities of the State of Israel in the international arena alongside the ongoing activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I respect this decision," Distel wrote.

She noted that "the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has much more resources, personnel and powers than the Ministry of Public Diplomacy, which received its initial budget only 17 weeks ago and is still in the stages of establishment. Ego aside - the good of Israel comes first, certainly during such a difficult war."

She continued, "The Ministry of Public Diplomacy has been assigned the task of strengthening national resilience. However, there is already a very competent Minister for National Resilience, there is the Home Front Command, there are civilian organizations that do sacred work, and to be honest - I can't find any justification for this multiplication of powers right now. A government ministry is an expensive matter and the people of Israel need every shekel. And when I see the Ministry of Public Diplomacy that has been emptied of the powers it was given in the first place - I can only honestly admit that every day it is operated from now on is a waste of public funds. In the current constellation this ministry cannot make a significant contribution to the country and the good of the country is more important to me than anything. Due to all of these reasons, I decided to resign from my position as Minister of Public Diplomacy."

She also wrote, "I wish my good friend, Amichai Chikli, great success in promoting the State of Israel in the world and am convinced that he will continue to do an excellent job. I thank the Prime Minister for the trust he placed in me and implore him to give the ministry’s entire budget directly to citizens in the south."