New Haredi Representative Sparks Outrage With Holocaust Comparison
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Elyakim Stark, a new representative for the United Torah Judaism party, caused widespread outrage by comparing the situation of Haredim facing draft orders to the Holocaust. He also controversially stated it is better to be a terrorist than a Haredi. The remarks, made at an election event in Beit Shemesh, drew sharp criticism from political leaders including Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Lapid, who condemned the statements as a disgrace and a threat to national security. Stark's comments have sparked a significant political backlash just weeks before an election.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- New Haredi representative Elyakim Stark compared the situation of Haredim to the Holocaust.
- Stark also stated it is more worthwhile to be a terrorist than a Haredi in Israel.
- The remarks were made at an election event in Beit Shemesh on Thursday.
- Stark replaced Yisrael Eichler on the United Torah Judaism list.
- Political leaders including Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Lapid strongly condemned Stark's statements.
- The comments have sparked a major political controversy.
Elyakim Stark, the new representative for Belz Hasidism on the United Torah Judaism list, has ignited a firestorm by stating that the current situation for Haredim, particularly regarding draft orders preventing them from traveling abroad for marriage arrangements, is "close to what happened in the Holocaust." Stark, who replaced Yisrael Eichler on the list, made these remarks at an election event in Beit Shemesh on Thursday.
Stark explained that the inability to travel abroad for potential spouses necessitates that families of brides must come to Israel. He elaborated, "When you want to get engaged from abroad, you have to come here because you can't (leave the country). I took it upon myself not to talk about Holocaust stories in the first few years, but I have no other definition. Our situation is close to what happened in the Holocaust. It reminds me of stories from our grandfathers."
He also sharply criticized Deputy Supreme Court President, Justice Noam Sohlberg, accusing him of "Sohlbergism," a phenomenon that allegedly encourages attacking Haredim. Stark controversially stated, "It is more worthwhile in the State of Israel to be a terrorist and kill entire families than to be a Haredi."
Former representative Yisrael Eichler, also present at the event, commented that he "estimates this is the last time Haredim will be allowed to vote in elections." Stark, 34, who was born in Belgium and educated in Belz institutions, has previously worked behind the scenes on political and public matters for the Belz Hasidism leadership.
The remarks drew immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, called the statements "horrific" and a "disgrace to every Israeli and every Jew," demanding to know if the choice in the upcoming election is "us or the draft dodgers."
Yair Lapid, chairman of Yesh Atid, shared a personal anecdote, stating his father, a Holocaust survivor, would have wanted to convey that the IDF ensures no such event happens again, and that Stark's encouragement of draft evasion undermines this. Ofer Winter, chairman of Am Ech Yisrael, labeled Stark's comments a "disgrace" and linked them to the silence of the Prime Minister and government officials regarding protests against the IDF by the Jerusalem Faction of the Haredi community. Winter urged the Haredi public to disavow the statements and called for an immediate and strong condemnation from the Prime Minister and his ministers.
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