Likud Party Affirms Yehuda Eliyahu Will Remain Acting Head of Israel Land Authority

The Likud party issued a clarification on Wednesday evening stating that Yehuda Eliyahu, the acting director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), will not be dismissed. The statement came after reports emerged that Housing and Construction Minister Haim Katz had summoned Eliyahu for a pre-dismissal hearing.

According to the party's announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Eliyahu's appointment as acting director, emphasizing his "important national work in the Galilee and the Negev." The party asserted, "He will not be fired."

The clarification follows a report by "TheMarker" detailing a severe power struggle between Minister Katz and Eliyahu over control of the ILA. Their relationship reportedly deteriorated to a point that jeopardized Eliyahu's position, especially as his temporary appointment was set to end in October.

Eliyahu was initially appointed to his role with the stated goal of replicating a significant change he had implemented in the West Bank, focusing on developing the Negev and Galilee regions and promoting Jewish settlement. However, sources suggest this initiative faced internal opposition.

Minister Katz appointed Eliyahu as acting director for three months in July, following a High Court decision that canceled Eliyahu's permanent appointment. While it was previously assumed Katz would extend Eliyahu's temporary tenure if a permanent director wasn't appointed, the worsening relationship has cast doubt on this possibility. A key point of contention appears to be Katz's desire for deeper involvement in the ILA's operations, partly through Sigal Gabai, the head of the business division, who was appointed before Eliyahu and previously worked under Katz at the Ministry of Tourism. Eliyahu, conversely, has sought to minimize external interference and maintain professional decision-making control within the authority.