Settlement Groups Urge Netanyahu to Halt Dismissal of Israel Land Authority Official

Zionist and settlement organizations have sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding his immediate intervention to halt the dismissal proceedings against Yehuda Eliyahu, the acting director of the Israel Land Authority. The dismissal process is being advanced by Housing and Construction Minister Haim Katz.

The appeal comes after the Likud party announced that Eliyahu would not be removed from his position. However, Minister Katz has stated his intention to proceed with the hearing scheduled for Eliyahu.

The organizations argue that the Israel Land Authority has strayed from its original purpose of safeguarding national lands, becoming focused on profit maximization and land trading. They contend that Eliyahu's appointment marked a shift towards prioritizing national considerations, citing his role as a founder of the Regavim movement and his efforts in promoting settlement in Judea and Samaria and protecting state lands over the past three years.

Sources familiar with the matter suggest the dispute is part of a larger power struggle over control of the Israel Land Authority and the changes Eliyahu seeks to implement in its management and operations. These sources claim the workers' union opposition is linked to structural changes Eliyahu aims to advance, representing a clash between those seeking deep reform and those wishing to maintain the status quo. The conflict also involves appointments within the authority and land management policies, with Katz reportedly seeking to retain influence over appointments while Eliyahu advocates for professional appointments and strengthening national control over lands in the Negev and Galilee.

Meir Deutsch, CEO of the Regavim movement, criticized the potential dismissal, stating, "It is impossible to cry out about the duty to save and ensure our hold in the Negev, the Galilee, and Judea and Samaria, and at the same time dismiss the most professional and suitable director for carrying out this national mission, and from non-professional and irrelevant political considerations, which directly harm the national interest of the State of Israel." He urged the Prime Minister to intervene without delay, calling Eliyahu's position critical for the nation's future and the preservation of its lands.