Regional Council Head Defends Israel Land Authority Director Against Dismissal

Eran Doron, head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, has publicly supported Yehuda Eliyahu, director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), amid calls for his dismissal. Doron stated that the responsible minister, Haim Katz, is seeking to remove Eliyahu for "non-substantive reasons." Doron emphasized that support for Eliyahu transcends political and regional divides, noting that Eliyahu "knows how to talk to us and listen to us."

Doron praised Eliyahu's approach, highlighting his "correct value baggage" and a service-oriented vision for the ILA, which he believes should serve the public rather than act as a financial institution. He argued that this aligns with global trends where land management is often under local authority control, enabling development and settlement.

Criticizing Minister Katz, Doron asserted that Eliyahu is performing an excellent job and that the minister's motives are not in the public's best interest, particularly concerning settlement efforts. Doron pointed to Eliyahu's success in resolving issues like clause '86', which had stalled settlement in remote areas, and ensuring the allocation of plots and sales contracts for isolated farms.

Doron described the individuals establishing these farms as "doing Zionism" and argued they should not be penalized for their desire to settle the land. When asked about potential next steps if Eliyahu is dismissed, Doron expressed uncertainty about future developments but suggested the outcome would be less favorable. He urged consideration of the widespread support for Eliyahu from diverse local authority heads, implying their collective opinion might be correct.