Ultra-Orthodox Leader's Ties to Anti-Zionist Figures Spark Political Controversy in Israel
The Israeli coalition and its propaganda arms are intensifying efforts to prevent voter defections by demonizing two key figures: MK Mansour Abbas and the Democratic Party. While Abbas is widely rejected by the opposition bloc, the campaign against Yair Golan and his associates has seen notable success, as reflected in statements by Avigdor Lieberman. A recent revelation on Channel 13 exposed a surprising meeting involving the Gur Hasidic Rebbe traveling on the private plane of Yoeli Landau, a wealthy anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic leader. Landau, whose faction had a representative serving as Housing Minister until last year, openly denies Israel's legitimacy and funds opposition to any compromise on the ultra-Orthodox military draft.
This connection highlights a stark double standard: left-wing figures are scrutinized heavily for any association with anti-Israel elements, yet the top leader of MK Yitzhak Goldknopf's faction freely travels with Landau. Attempts by some rabbis to address this issue were dismissed as compromising and corrupting Israeli youth. The meeting also included political operatives like Moti Babchik, familiar with power corridors, and revealed plans to appeal to the International Criminal Court in The Hague against Israel, alongside a U.S.-based team addressing police violence complaints.
The public was informed about the establishment of a foreign-funded, anti-Zionist informant network under the auspices of a Hasidic group viewed by much of the right-wing (Likud, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism) as a "natural partner." Despite the Gur Rebbe's advanced age, he refrained from condemning these moves, using neither strong rejection nor distancing language. This situation contrasts sharply with the uproar that follows even mild left-wing calls for international intervention regarding West Bank issues.
The coalition's silence is unsurprising given its daily warnings against a "government with Arabs," especially when Defense Minister Yoav Gallant left a cabinet meeting mourning fallen soldiers to attend a family event for a convicted criminal rabbi. Equally puzzling is the opposition's failure to expose the ruling bloc's deep ties to overtly anti-Zionist factions, which undermines their delegitimization campaigns against parties like the Democrats and Ra'am.
The prospect of a future government including a Gur representative, who now openly collaborates with Satmar, should trigger a campaign highlighting the hypocrisy of Netanyahu, Smotrich, and others who criticize a government with Ra'am while planning to form one with non-Zionist parties. The absence of criticism from figures like Eisenkot, Bennett, and Lieberman regarding the Gur Rebbe's role in empowering Israel's adversaries raises questions about political paralysis or strategic avoidance. Ultimately, the votes from Satmar allies could prove decisive in upcoming elections.
