Israel Land Authority Acting Director Summoned for Dismissal Hearing

The Israeli Minister of Construction and Housing, Yitzhak Goldknopf, has summoned Yehuda Eliyahu, the acting director general of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), for a pre-dismissal hearing, despite his term not yet being complete. This decision comes two weeks after a public dispute between Eliyahu and the workers' union regarding his intention to cancel a performance featuring female singers at an employee welfare event. Eliyahu, considered close to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, had his initial appointment as director blocked by the Supreme Court due to these ties and conflicts of interest within the selection committee. A court-proposed compromise led to his appointment as acting director for three months, starting July 16. However, Minister Goldknopf now appears to be ending this interim appointment early.

The controversy stemmed from Eliyahu's decision to cancel the performance "Because of the Wind," featuring songs by Shlomi Shabat, which was planned for a Rosh Hashanah employee event. He cited the inclusion of female singers as the reason for cancellation. The National Workers Union petitioned the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court, arguing that the cancellation violated the law and infringed upon the rights of employees to an equal workplace. An agreement was reached to postpone the event and allow the performance, with a separate activity offered for those who did not wish to listen to female singers.

Shali Yarmiyah, chair of the ILA National Workers Committee, and her deputy, Adv. Lilach Gutterman, sent a letter to Minister Goldknopf criticizing Eliyahu's conduct. They highlighted the dispute over female singers, along with concerns about senior appointments within the ILA and Eliyahu's lack of engagement with employee representatives on issues including the collective agreement. Eliyahu, formerly head of the right-wing Regavim movement, previously managed the Settlement Administration, an civilian body under the Ministry of Defense responsible for Israeli civilian activity in the West Bank, where he promoted significant construction and settlement expansion. Radio host Yinon Magal stated that Eliyahu's appointment was the last chance to save the Negev and Galilee, and threatened not to vote for the Likud party if he is dismissed.