Ultra-Orthodox Operatives Play Dual Role in Israeli Politics
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Ultra-Orthodox operatives who worked for the Likud party's primaries are now campaigning for Haredi parties like Agudath Yisrael and Shas in the upcoming Knesset elections. These individuals, despite a law prohibiting membership in multiple parties, exploit loopholes by not formally joining Haredi parties. Several prominent examples illustrate this dual role, including local officials and campaign managers. Critics have condemned this practice as "internal subversion" and called for legal reform.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi operatives active in Likud primaries are now working for Haredi parties in upcoming Knesset elections.
- These operatives exploit loopholes in party laws to be members of multiple parties simultaneously.
- Examples include officials managing campaigns for Agudath Yisrael and Shas while remaining Likud members.
- Critics describe the situation as "internal subversion" and call for legal changes.
- The practice was previously exposed a year ago and continues despite legal prohibitions.
Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) operatives and vote-gatherers who were active in the recent Likud party primaries are now working for Haredi parties ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. These same individuals previously mobilized many Haredi members for the Likud and were seen at polling stations distributing pre-prepared recommendation lists for Likud ministers and Knesset members. Some of these operatives now hold official positions within Agudath Yisrael factions, while others have been documented in election videos for Shas. One individual simultaneously serves as a Likud Central Committee member and is listed on the United Torah Judaism Knesset slate, albeit in an unrealistic 49th position.
This dual activity was previously exposed about a year ago, showing Haredi operatives deeply involved in Likud primaries while also holding positions in local authorities for United Torah Judaism and Shas, and campaigning for them in Knesset elections. The current findings indicate that some of these figures have returned to assist their original Haredi parties, with these examples representing only a fraction of similar cases in areas with high Haredi populations.
Legally, Section 15 of the Parties Law of 1992 prohibits individuals from being registered as members of more than one party, with false declarations punishable by up to one year in prison. However, Haredi operatives circumvent this by exploiting a loophole: Haredi parties do not have mass enlistment or membership fees, allowing these individuals to be officially registered only with the Likud on paper, while actively working for multiple parties.
Notable cases include Aharon Albaum, a Belz Hasid who managed a Likud precinct of 300 members and is now running the field operations for Agudath Yisrael in Bnei Brak, where he also serves as deputy mayor. Eliezer Lutskin is registered as both a Likud Central Committee member and a candidate for United Torah Judaism, while also managing Agudath Yisrael's community affairs in Jerusalem. Uzi Shalom, who was active in the Likud primaries, now manages Agudath Yisrael's youth headquarters in Beitar Illit, where he is also a city council member.
Similar patterns are seen with Yonatan Radner, a former organizer for a Likud precinct in Haifa, who now manages Agudath Yisrael's election campaign there. Israel Glantz, another Likud Central Committee member, is now managing Agudath Yisrael's community affairs in Rehovot. Shas also has operatives who were active in Likud primaries, such as Nir Ariel, Deputy Mayor of Bnei Brak, who was seen in a Shas election video. These activities follow reports of Moti Bapchik's associates managing the Gur Hasidic precinct within the Likud during the primaries.
Likud faction chairman in Bnei Brak's city council, Yaakov Weider, and a local resident, Udi Tena, criticized this situation, calling it an "absurd reality" where "elected officials from foreign party operatives are taking over the ruling party." They urged for legal changes to prevent such "internal subversion."
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