The appointment of Yehuda Eliyahu, a close associate of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as CEO of the Israel Land Authority is stalled. Efrat Prokatscha, the legal advisor for the Ministry of Construction and Housing, opposes Eliyahu's appointment due to his lack of specific qualifications and political ties to Smotrich. This opposition arose as the selection committee was nearing its final decision. Earlier, MK Yorai Lahav Hertzanu requested a freeze on the appointment process, claiming the position was tailored for Eliyahu. The situation is critical as the Land Authority has been operating without a permanent CEO for four months, with Idan Moalem serving as interim director. The controversy surrounding this appointment is not new, as the quality of the selection process has been questioned by organizations advocating for government transparency.
