Yehuda Eliyahu Appointed Acting CEO of Israel Land Authority After Supreme Court Overturns Permanent Appointment

The Israeli government appointed Yehuda Eliyahu as the acting CEO of the Israel Land Authority (ILA) for a three-month period or until a permanent CEO is chosen. This decision came a day after the Supreme Court annulled his permanent appointment. Housing Minister Haim Katz announced the appointment followed consultations with the Civil Service Commissioner, Doran Cohen. However, reports indicate that the government legal advisor’s opinion was ignored by Cohen, who approved Eliyahu’s appointment and allowed Katz to sign it.

The Supreme Court ruling did not address the issue of appointing an acting CEO and did not oppose Eliyahu serving in that capacity. The court ordered a restart of the CEO selection committee after two of its five members were found to have conflicts of interest. Crucially, the court highlighted a significant connection between Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Eliyahu, who have been political allies for 27 years. This relationship raised legal concerns because Israeli law permits appointing someone with close ties to the appointing minister only if the candidate has proven exceptional qualifications, which was not demonstrated in Eliyahu’s case.

The ruling and subsequent appointment raise questions about the legality and propriety of Eliyahu’s role as acting CEO, especially since he is due to retire from civil service within a week. Critics argue that the government’s use of the acting CEO position may circumvent legal safeguards designed to ensure merit-based appointments. Smotrich defended the procedural aspects of the appointment but was criticized for ignoring the law’s intent to promote qualified leadership for public service bodies. Observers note that qualified candidates from the same political-religious community could have been found to fulfill government policy without raising such concerns.