After budget passage, top Israel finance ministry official steps down

JERUSALEM – Israeli Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom is stepping down after one year in the post and following the final passage of the 2026 state budget, the ministry said on Monday, without providing a reason for his departure.

As the ministry’s top civil servant, Rom, who had previously served for 25 years at Israel’s Mossad spy agency, replaced Shlomi Heisler a year ago.

“As a former senior official in Mossad, Rom brought the ministry a geoeconomic and strategic perspective, strengthening the Finance Ministry’s central role in shaping economic policy for the post-war period, preparing for Abraham Accords 2.0, and enhancing regional economic alliances,” the ministry said.

The ministry said he was initially appointed to help strengthen Israel’s economy during the then-Gaza war, overseeing the 2025 and 2026 budgets.

“I had the privilege of contributing to the state during this busy and challenging period,” Rom said in a statement.

Lawmakers earlier on Monday gave final approval to the defence-heavy 699 billion shekel ($221 billion) 2026 budget, beating a March 31 deadline that would have led to new snap elections if the spending package had failed in the parliamentary vote.

It was not yet clear who would take Rom’s place.

Earlier this year, Michal Abadi-Boiangiu took over as accountant general, replacing Yali Rothenberg whose term ended in January.