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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

UTJ spiritual leader meets with anti-Zionist Satmar millionaire over haredi IDF draft - report

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A senior spiritual leader of United Torah Judaism, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, met with Joel Landau, a millionaire from the anti-Zionist Satmar group.
  • The meeting reportedly focused on the issue of ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions from the Israeli military, with participants suggesting international legal action against Israel.
  • One participant compared Israel to North Korea and Landau allegedly offered a significant sum to a fund protecting yeshiva students evading the draft.

Gerrer Admor Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, a prominent spiritual leader within the United Torah Judaism party, has reportedly met with Joel Landau, a wealthy member of the anti-Zionist Hasidic group Satmar. The meeting, which focused on the contentious issue of ultra-Orthodox (haredi) draft exemptions from the Israeli military, has drawn criticism.

Those who were looking for where the extremism lies - here you go, please.

— MK Naama LazimiA Knesset member reacted to the reported meeting and statements.

According to reports, participants in the meeting discussed potential solutions, including lodging complaints against Israel with international courts, such as the International Court of Justice. Footage released by Channel 13 captured another participant, Emet LeYaakov chairman Israel Gafner, comparing Israel to North Korea and accusing the country of preventing haredim from leaving. Gafner asserted that "Human dignity and freedom are not relevant when it comes to those who study Torah."

Joel Landau allegedly offered to contribute one million dollars to a fund intended to protect yeshiva students from prosecution for evading the IDF draft. Landau has previously expressed strong support for Rabbi Alter, praising him in a 2025 letter as "the only one who stood courageously and heroically to leave the government that threatens to draft the yeshiva students of Israel into their impure army." He has also been critical of other Israeli haredi rabbis, accusing them of making compromises that lead to the drafting of yeshiva students.

If you needed any further proof as to why the haredi parties are not legitimate coalition partners after the elections - in no scenario, under no circumstances. The haredi autonomy must be dismantled.

— MK Vladimir BeliakAnother Knesset member commented on the implications of the meeting for political coalitions.

The revelations have sparked condemnation from Israeli politicians. MK Naama Lazimi of the Democrats described the sentiments expressed as "madness" and questioned why Israel would fund such actions. MK Vladimir Beliak argued that the incident further proves why haredi parties should not be legitimate coalition partners after elections, stating that "the haredi autonomy must be dismantled."

Human dignity and freedom are not relevant when it comes to those who study Torah.

— Israel GafnerEmet LeYaakov chairman Israel Gafner expressed his views on the importance of Torah study.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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