"I feel obligated," says Givati," to resign. I feel that my health situation is affecting my ability to serve the public and make crucial strategic decisions. It is important to understand that all current issues have continued to be addressed in the best possible manner by the Regional Council' staff people.

Even during those times when my health kept me away from work over the past year, my staff made sure that I was kept updated and informed of all pending issues and I personally intervened on serious issues. But attending important meetings and initiating meetings to resolve crucial issues has become very complicated. Carrying my share of workload on a daily basis has become too heavy a burden and I feel that my work performance has declined. In fact, I feel doubly accountable, for the sake of the Regional council on the one hand and the sake of my family and myself on the other.

After I was elected for my third term of office, I stated clearly that in my opinion a period of three terms is decidedly sufficient and that I do not intend to run for another term of office. So in fact, the sadness and the difficulties of parting would have had to be dealt with in one-year time in any case.

The motto that "health comes first" is commonly used. I have never accepted this concept at its face value. I claim that a person is not born for the sake of being healthy but in order to accomplish something important in his life, to define goals and to strive to attain them. Health is a bridge that allows us to move step by step towards our goals. In my case the bridge has become too narrow".

Who would you like to seen as your replacement?

"I am unwilling to express my opinion in support of one candidate or another. I think that the only consideration should be who is the most suitable candidate. It is a mistake to base support on sectorial considerations. The elected candidate should be a visionary as well as an extremely capable executive, someone who is knowledgeable and is able to achieve our defined goals and objectives. A person can stand up to "those who wish to demise us".

You announced that you wish to resign. What will happen now? What will happen now and in the next coming weeks?

"I will consult and decide what is the most appropriate time and the earliest date to formally submit my resignation to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. After my resignation comes into effect, the Minister of Interior Affairs will announce the date for the regional council elections, which in my opinion will be within 60 to 90 days".

Who will head the regional council until the elections?

We should have answers to these questions shortly. I am checking what law requires and I assure you that our only consideration will be what is best for the regional council. In parallel, the standard procedures, prescribed in instances that require early elections, will come into effect. The sadness of parting will pass with time and people look onward and forward to the future".

Adar Aleph 5763 - March 2003