Netanyahu Blocks Dismissal of Land Authority Acting Director Eliahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked the dismissal of Israel Land Authority acting director Yehuda Eliahu, who received strong backing from regional council heads against housing minister pressure.
Eran Doron, head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, defended Yehuda Eliahu, acting director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA) and an associate of Finance Minister Бецалель Смотрич, amid reports of an impending dismissal by Construction and Housing Minister Исраэль Кац. Prime Minister Биньямин Нетаниягу subsequently intervened to block the move.
Speaking on 103fm radio, Doron emphasized that his support transcends political affiliations. "Yehuda Eliahu is the right man because he understands the need of local authorities in the Negev and the Galilee to cut through terrible bureaucratic bottlenecks of settlement," Doron said. He noted that Eliahu approaches his role with a service-oriented mindset, viewing the ILA as a public servant rather than a financial institution.
Conflict Over Settlement Bureaucracy
Doron criticized Housing Minister Katz, claiming that the motivations behind seeking Eliahu's dismissal were not substantive. Eliahu, who has served in the position since May, has garnered widespread backing from local council heads—contrasting sharply with tensions during the tenure of his predecessor, Janki Quint, who faced criticism for centralized management and disputes over land marketing.
"We, the heads of the authorities, support him. This crosses parties and regions. This already says something. The man who heads the Israel Land Authority today knows how to talk to us and listen to us," Doron stated.
Political Intervention and Local Backing
Doron pointed out that Eliahu has successfully resolved long-standing administrative hurdles, including issues stalling settlement expansion in remote areas. Despite lacking a career bureaucratic background within the ILA, municipal leaders from across the political spectrum argue that his pragmatic approach has significantly aided regional development and agricultural homesteads.
While Prime Minister Биньямин Нетаниягу halted the immediate dismissal attempt, local leaders remain watchful over the ongoing administrative tensions between municipal authorities and housing ministry leadership regarding land allocation policies.
