Israeli Lawmaker Seeks Probe Into Alleged Foreign Funding of Haredi Party

Member of Knesset Yitzhak Pindrus has formally requested the State Comptroller investigate potential illicit funding of the Haredi Public Party, led by Moti Leitner. The inquiry stems from information Pindrus received suggesting the U.S.-based Maimonides Fund may have provided financial resources and operational support for the party's political activities.

Pindrus's letter to the State Comptroller cites Section 8(a) of the Law for the Funding of Parties, which prohibits donations from corporations, directly or indirectly. He argues that providing services, staff, assets, or resources without compensation could also constitute an illegal monetary contribution, even if channeled through external entities.

According to Pindrus, if the allegations are true, they represent a potential violation of the party funding law and an attempt to circumvent financial and reporting restrictions. He noted that the Maimonides Fund, based in North America, publicly states it is not religiously or politically affiliated.

Pindrus urged the State Comptroller to conduct an urgent examination of the financial and operational ties between the fund and the party, including the scope of resources provided. He requested appropriate action be taken based on the findings.

The request comes approximately two weeks after the Haredi Public Party's poor performance in the recent elections, where it garnered only about 9,029 votes, significantly below expectations. Following the election, Leitner acknowledged the failure, attributing it to voters' fear of wasting their ballot and their preference for larger parties. The party also faced internal disputes during the campaign, with several rabbis publicly denying support, including Rabbi Asher Weiss, who expressed distress over false claims of his endorsement.