Public Affairs Department

The Public Affairs Department serves as the main channel of communication between the public and the Prime Minister. The messages that citizens wish to deliver to the Prime Minister are conveyed through the department. This is how the Prime Minister receives feedback from the public regarding his policies; government decisions; the overall functioning of the executive authority; various problems that citizens or sectors encounter; and any other issue that citizens wish to bring to the Prime Minister's attention. 

The Adviser to the Prime Minister for Public Affairs, together with a trained staff, is responsible for the following areas: 

•  Responding to letters addressed to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office; 
•  Implementing the Freedom of Information Law; 
•  Preparing and distributing periodic intra-office reports regarding messages, petitions and appeals from the public. 
•  Developing tools and methods to effectively address public affairs. 

Those who contact the Prime Minister are Israeli citizens and various organizations and bodies. The letters are processed in accordance with Good Governance practices; E-Government; regular working procedures; and the ethical principles of transparency, professionalism, practicality, fairness and courtesy.  The letters are received through various communication channels: 

1.  E-mails 
2.  Public affairs hotline
3.  Post
4.  Fax 
5.  Miscellaneous (Director General's Office; Prime Minister's Bureau; the bureau of the Prime Minister's wife, and more).

In 2009, 45,771 communications were received, of which 36,236 were messages and 9,535 were letters, which contained questions on diplomatic, political and social issues addressed to the Prime Minister; requests for help and questions on professional issues. Petitions are also received. The department employees replied directly to most of the communications. 
Communications that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office were processed subject to Article 2b of the 1958 Administrative Arrangements Amendment Law (Decisions and Explanations): the department photocopied the communications and transferred them to the relevant authorities, while notifying the appellants accordingly. 

The messages addressed to the Prime Minister are summarized and forwarded for his attention in the form of periodic reports.