Housing Minister Presses Ahead with Hearing for Land Authority Deputy Director Amid Political Opposition

Housing Minister Haim Katz has summoned Yehuda Eliyahu, the acting director-general of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), for a pre-termination hearing, despite opposition from within the Likud party. Eliyahu is considered a confidant of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The opposition within Likud is reportedly concerned about damaging relations with the Religious Zionist party ahead of upcoming elections.

The hearing stems from disagreements between Katz, who oversees the ILA, and Eliyahu. Katz cites Eliyahu's alleged poor management, negative interpersonal skills, and exclusion of women as reasons for the hearing. Further disputes involve appointments Eliyahu seeks to advance, which have also drawn a complaint from the workers' committee chair, Shelly Yarmiyahu. These conflicts have led to a breakdown between Eliyahu and the human resources deputy director, Sharon Cohen.

Specifically, Eliyahu has opened at least four senior positions to external tenders, bypassing long-term employees. Sources within the ILA suggest that Yoni Danino, another associate of Smotrich, is slated for a senior policy and planning role. Eliyahu is also accused of delaying crucial discussions on a new collective agreement, senior promotion mechanisms, and employee work locations. A contentious issue involves Eliyahu's alleged interference in welfare event content, attempting to impose his religious values, such as trying to cancel a tribute event featuring female singers, which was later resolved through a compromise after legal intervention.

Eliyahu's tenure as acting director-general, appointed after High Court scrutiny of the initial selection process, is set to end in mid-October. A new selection committee was supposed to be formed, but its third member has resigned, leaving the committee defunct. The final decision on the ILA director-general requires agreement from the Housing Minister, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, Smotrich's close ties to Eliyahu may preclude his involvement in any decision regarding Eliyahu's dismissal.

Katz stated that claims of the hearing being linked to appointments are baseless, emphasizing serious management failures at the ILA, including poor human relations and gender exclusion, raising concerns about Eliyahu's suitability. He added that Eliyahu's lack of cooperation on expanding benefits for career soldiers and their families would also be examined. Katz indicated that if no resolution is reached, he would appoint an acting director to advance Jewish settlement in the Negev and Galilee, a national priority. He also stressed the need for a manager capable of implementing essential reforms in staffing and public service.