Israel Land Authority Deputy Director Accuses Housing Minister of Improper Interference

Yehuda Eliyahu, acting director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), responded to a letter from Housing and Construction Minister Haim Katz, who had summoned him for a pre-dismissal hearing. In his letter, Eliyahu presented a disturbing picture of alleged attempts to interfere with the ILA's professional management.

Eliyahu stated that the dispute is deep and substantive, stemming not from employee union claims but from his refusal to yield to the minister's demands. He accused Katz of demanding the dismissal of senior ILA officials without professional or managerial justification, asserting, "I am unwilling to use my authority contrary to my professional discretion."

Furthermore, the letter revealed that the minister's office demanded approval for all tenders for intermediate and senior positions within the authority, including blocking a tender for the director of the policy division. Eliyahu argued this exceeds appropriate interface and creates a mechanism bypassing professional authority.

Despite his appeals to the minister, Eliyahu claims Katz backs this "scandalous conduct," which prevents progress on the collective agreement, personal contracts, and employee welfare matters. He added that parallel channels between the minister's office and figures like the deputy director harm the organization's ability to function.

Eliyahu concluded by stating he refuses to accept a situation where responsibility for managing the authority rests on his shoulders, but the authority to perform his role is effectively removed due to external interference from the minister.