Supreme Court Allows Interim Land Authority Head to Stay Until 2027
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The Supreme Court ruled that Yehuda Eliyahu can remain acting Director-General of the Israel Land Authority until January 2027, overriding objections from legal advisors. The court determined that Eliyahu's interim tenure began on July 22, allowing him to serve an additional three months. This decision resolves a political entanglement involving Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and allows the government to avoid a leadership vacuum before the upcoming elections. A permanent appointment is unlikely until after the elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Supreme Court ruled Yehuda Eliyahu can serve as acting Director-General of the Israel Land Authority until January 2027.
- The court's decision contradicts the positions of the Ministry of Housing's legal advisor and the Attorney General.
- Justices determined Eliyahu's interim tenure began on July 22, allowing for an extended term.
- The ruling resolves a political issue reportedly stemming from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's insistence on his associate's appointment.
- Housing Minister Haim Katz relented on his opposition to Eliyahu after pressure from senior Likud officials.
- A permanent appointment is unlikely before the upcoming elections due to standard procedures.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Yehuda Eliyahu can continue serving as the acting Director-General of the Israel Land Authority (ILA) until January 2027. This decision contradicts the positions of the Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Housing, Efrat Porat'chia, and the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara.
The core of the dispute lies in how the six-month limit for acting appointments is calculated. While legal advisors argued that Eliyahu's previous three months serving as acting director of the Public Transport Authority should count towards this limit, the Supreme Court justices, Yael Vilner, Ofer Groskopf, and Khaled Kabub, determined that the clock for his ILA tenure only began on July 22. This allows Eliyahu to remain in the role for an additional three months, extending his term until January.
The court's decision effectively extricated the government from a difficult situation, reportedly caused by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's insistence on appointing his associate. Under normal circumstances, an acting appointment is for three months, extendable by the relevant minister for another three months, requiring the signatures of the Finance Minister, Housing Minister, and Prime Minister. Housing Minister Haim Katz had previously clashed with Eliyahu, even summoning him for a hearing, but ultimately relented following the Supreme Court's ruling and pressure from senior Likud officials concerned about confronting Smotrich so close to the elections.
Filling the position permanently requires a formal appointment through an. However, such appointments are typically impossible during an election period to prevent political influence. If Eliyahu's term had ended without the court's intervention, the government would have been unable to appoint a successor. It is considered unlikely, however, that Eliyahu would continue in the role after the elections if a new government is formed with different ministers.
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