Businessman Linked to Minister Pressed to Approve Land Authority CEO Appointment

Weeks before Yehuda Eliyahu was appointed CEO of the Israel Land Authority (ILA) on May 4, businessman Nadav Layla, a confidant of Housing and Construction Minister Haim Katz, faced significant pressure to help secure the appointment. Layla, a multimillionaire with ties to prominent political figures including President Isaac Herzog, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, was approached by Yoni Danino, Eliyahu's associate. Danino reportedly contacted Layla multiple times and met him twice, urging him to support Eliyahu's candidacy for the CEO position. Danino, an settlement activist with long-standing ties to Eliyahu, previously served as an advisor to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and is currently CEO of the economic company of the Benjamin Regional Council.

It remains unclear if Layla yielded to Danino's requests. Eliyahu was ultimately appointed, but the appointment was later disqualified by the Supreme Court two months ago, leading to Eliyahu serving as acting CEO. Minister Katz decided to dismiss Eliyahu from his acting role on September 25, sparking considerable political controversy and anger among senior Likud officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened, announcing an extension of Eliyahu's acting tenure, indicating the dispute is ongoing.

Eliyahu vehemently denied any behind-the-scenes maneuvering, stating, "The claim that I acted behind the scenes through others is an absolute lie. I was not aware of the alleged meetings at all and only learned about them from the inquiry forwarded to me. I did not ask anyone to approach any of the minister's confidants regarding the appointment." Both Danino and Layla declined to comment on the matter.