Legal Hurdles Block Extension for Israel Land Authority Acting Director
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Significant legal challenges exist in extending Yehuda Eliyahu's term as acting director of the Israel Land Authority, according to the Ministry of Construction and Housing's legal advisor. Eliyahu's current three-month term, which began July 16, has exhausted the six-month legal limit for acting appointments, as it follows another three-month term by Idan Moalem. The situation is further complicated by a pending disciplinary hearing against Eliyahu initiated by Minister Chaim Katz. Any replacement or extension requires special approvals and justification.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Legal advisor cites "significant legal difficulty" in extending Yehuda Eliyahu's acting role at Israel Land Authority.
- Eliyahu's term expires October 15, having already served three months as acting director.
- The six-month legal limit for acting appointments has been reached, following a prior three-month term.
- Eliyahu, an associate of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, had his permanent appointment overturned by the Supreme Court.
- Minister Chaim Katz faces further complications due to a pending disciplinary hearing against Eliyahu.
- Any extension or replacement requires special approvals and justification.
The legal advisor to the Ministry of Construction and Housing, Efrat Prokatchia, has stated that there are significant legal difficulties in extending the tenure of Yehuda Eliyahu as the acting director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), whose term is set to expire on October 15. Prokatchia's opinion, sent to Minister of Construction and Housing Chaim Katz on October 8, highlights that Eliyahu has already served three months in the role, and this follows another acting director who also served for three months, exhausting the six-month maximum allowed by law without special approval.
Eliyahu, a confidant of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, was initially pushed by Smotrich for a permanent appointment as ILA director, but the Supreme Court overturned this nomination on July 15. He then became the temporary acting director until a permanent replacement could be chosen. The process for selecting a permanent director has been stalled, partly due to the election period.
According to the law, a civil servant can serve as an acting director for three months, with a possible three-month extension in consultation with the Civil Service Commissioner, totaling no more than six months. However, Prokatchia's opinion clarifies that the previous acting director, Idan Moalem, served from February to May, meaning Eliyahu's current three-month term, which began on July 16, has used up the legal six-month limit.
Further complicating matters, Katz had summoned Eliyahu for a hearing on September 9 regarding his performance, including the cancellation of an employee welfare event due to women singing and allegations that Eliyahu ignored demands to freeze senior appointments. The hearing was postponed at the request of Civil Service Commissioner Doron Cohen. Even replacing Eliyahu would require Katz to present a candidate from among civil servants, detailing special circumstances justifying the continued temporary appointment, subject to approval from the Commissioner and the Attorney General.
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