New UTJ Candidate Sparks Controversy With Holocaust Comparison
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Elyakim Stark, a new candidate for United Torah Judaism, has caused a stir by comparing the draft of Haredim to the Holocaust and criticizing a Supreme Court official. Stark also acknowledged the need for cooperation on military conscription following the October 7th attacks. Meanwhile, the influential Gur Hasidic community is reportedly considering withholding its votes from the UTJ list due to internal party disputes.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- New UTJ candidate Elyakim Stark compared Haredi conscription efforts to the Holocaust.
- Stark criticized Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, accusing him of harshness towards Haredim.
- Stark acknowledged the post-October 7th need for more soldiers and called for cooperation on conscription.
- The influential Gur Hasidic community is reportedly threatening to withhold votes from UTJ.
- Internal party splits and technical maneuvers preceded the current controversies.
- Stark did not rule out cooperating with Izencott and confirmed receiving a 'blank slate' on conscription.
Elyakim Stark, a Belz Hasidic candidate representing the youth within the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, has generated significant controversy even before entering the Knesset. In an interview, Stark drew a parallel between the efforts to draft Haredim into the military and the Holocaust, stating, "Our situation is close to what it was during the Holocaust." He also criticized Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, suggesting that in Israel, "it is more worthwhile to be a terrorist and kill entire families than to be Haredi," coining the term "Sohlbergism" to describe a perceived harsher approach towards Haredim.
Stark, who aims to bring a fresh perspective to the party, acknowledged that the situation has changed since October 7th, recognizing a "huge need for thousands more fighters" and calling for cooperation on the issue of conscription. He stated that people "don't understand what they sinned in and what they transgressed and found themselves in a complex situation where they are criminals." He also confirmed that the party received a "blank slate" from the Izencott regarding conscription and did not rule out sitting with Izencott.
Meanwhile, the Gur Hasidic community, the largest faction within UTJ, is reportedly threatening to withhold votes in the upcoming election. Unlike other communities, Gur has not yet issued a directive from its Rebbe to vote for the list, nor have they established election headquarters. Their representative, who is second on the list, has not appeared at election rallies. This internal friction stems from a last-minute split within the Agudat Yisrael party, where Meir Porush and Elyakim Stark, both from the Belz Hasidic community, technically split to form a new party that joined the UTJ list.
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