Netanyahu Backs Acting Head of Israel Land Authority Amid Controversy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the continued tenure of Yehuda Eliyahu as acting director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), reversing a decision by Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to summon Eliyahu for a pre-dismissal hearing. The Prime Minister's Office, via the Likud party, announced that Eliyahu is performing important national work in the Negev and Galilee and will not be fired.

Eliyahu's position had been precarious since Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich initially sought to appoint him, sparking controversy. The ILA workers' committee also sent a sharp letter to Minister Goldknopf, detailing concerns about Eliyahu's management, including the cancellation of a staff event due to women singing and the recent appointment of senior officials.

The summoning for a hearing drew strong political reactions from figures aligned with the national camp. Minister Amichai Chikli defended Eliyahu, calling his appointment crucial for the national camp and stating that no "entrenched bureaucrat" would remove him, emphasizing no compromises in the struggle for the Negev and Galilee. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi echoed this support, calling Eliyahu "the right man in the right place" and urging against foreign considerations harming the effort to save the Negev and Galilee.

Media personality Yinon Magal intensified the tone, declaring Eliyahu's appointment the "last chance to save the Negev and Galilee" and threatening not to vote for Likud if Eliyahu were dismissed. The Prime Minister's intervention and approval are seen as a significant political victory for those who supported Eliyahu, transforming a management dispute into a public political confrontation.

Minister Goldknopf, however, stated that claims of summoning Eliyahu for a pre-dismissal hearing due to appointments were baseless. He cited serious allegations of poor management, including improper human relations and the exclusion of women, raising concerns about Eliyahu's suitability to lead the authority. Goldknopf also mentioned a lack of cooperation regarding the expansion of rights for career soldiers and their families. He indicated that these matters would be examined in a hearing, and if no agreement is reached, he would seek an acting director who promotes Jewish settlement in the Negev and Galilee, while also needing a manager capable of essential reforms in staffing and public service.