Government Asks High Court to Allow Israel Land Authority Director Appointment Amid Election Ban
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Construction and Housing Haim Katz, have petitioned the High Court of Justice to allow the renewal of the selection committee process for a permanent director-general of the Israel Land Authority (ILA). This move comes despite the Attorney General's refusal to approve senior appointments during election periods, a practice intended to prevent political interference. Smotrich is reportedly pushing to expedite the process to re-appoint his associate, Yehuda Eliyahu, to the five-year position before the upcoming elections, which he might not be able to secure if the current coalition loses.
Eliyahu is currently serving as interim director for a three-month period that ends shortly before the elections. However, Minister Katz recently summoned Eliyahu for a pre-termination hearing, citing allegations of poor management and the exclusion of women, which has caused turmoil within the Likud party and potentially jeopardized Smotrich's efforts. This development complicates the government's petition to the court.
Eliyahu was initially appointed permanent director in May, but the High Court later ordered a cancellation due to concerns that two of the five selection committee members were in conflicts of interest. The court mandated the appointment of new members and a re-interview of the top three candidates from the previous round, including Eliyahu, Shuli Avni Shoham, and Kobi Yellovitz. The court did not limit the committee from interviewing additional candidates.
Smotrich has succeeded in appointing new members to the committee: Professor Edna Largenthal from Ariel University and Avi Meir, director-general of the Ministry of Settlement Affairs, who is an appointee of Minister Orit Strock, an ally of Smotrich. The committee will now consist of four members, as Gil Reich, representing the Prime Minister, has resigned. The other members are Michael Itzchakov, director-general of the Ministry of Tourism, and Inbal Masesh, director-general of the Employment Service.
The government's petition argues that the High Court's previous ruling did not prohibit completing the appointment process during elections. However, the "Academia for a Democratic Israel" organization contends that the election period was not raised in the prior legal proceedings. The court has requested responses from other parties involved, anticipating a differing stance from the state, as the Attorney General opposes renewing the appointment process at this time.
