Israel Land Authority Deputy Director Rejects Minister's Claims

Yehuda Eliyahu, acting director of the Israel Land Authority, has responded to a pre-dismissal hearing letter sent by Housing and Construction Minister Haim Katz. In a detailed letter, Eliyahu presented claims of attempted interference by the minister in his office and the authority's professional management.

Eliyahu clarified that the core of the dispute stems from his refusal to comply with the minister's demands to dismiss senior officials without adequate professional or managerial basis. He revealed that the minister's office sought prior approval for all tenders, even for mid-level positions, and blocked a tender for the director of the policy division, bypassing the authority's professional competencies.

Furthermore, Eliyahu alleged that the minister supports parallel channels of operation between his office and certain authority officials, such as the deputy director, which he claims harms the organization's management capabilities and delays crucial matters like collective agreements, individual contracts, and welfare issues.

Addressing the minister's justifications, which were based on employee committee claims, Eliyahu refuted them. Regarding the alleged prevention of women singing at an employee event, he stated he sought a solution for religiously observant employees and that a compromise was reached via the Labor Court for the original event alongside alternative activities.

Concerning the delay of an employee study tour to Eilat, Eliyahu explained that the process required review due to a budget overrun of approximately one million shekels. He noted that since taking office, he increased the authority's training and welfare budget to 11 million shekels, up from about 4.5 million shekels last year.

Eliyahu concluded by stating he is unwilling to bear responsibility for managing the Israel Land Authority when his professional authority is effectively undermined by external interference.