In a letter sent by Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Zilberberg to Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, he denies the report from Galatz (IDF Radio) claiming that Gur reached an agreement with the army. He asserts that "these events never occurred."
Rabbi Zilberberg, head of the Gur Yeshiva in Hatzor HaGlilit, whose name was mentioned as having allegedly reached an agreement with the army, allowing Gur Hasidim to evade military draft orders in exchange for the enlistment of a few hundred Hasidim into the police through the army, firmly denies the report. He claims that "there is no truth to this at all."
In the letter, which he sent earlier today (Thursday) to Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, a representative of Gur in the Agudat Yisrael faction of the United Torah Judaism party, Zilberberg completely denies the matter, saying that "someone fabricated this story."
In his letter, Rabbi Zilberberg wrote:
"I was shocked to hear about reports suggesting that I engaged in negotiations on behalf of the Gur Hasidim concerning the enlistment of some into the police in exchange for exemption from the army. This is complete nonsense.
There is no connection between this report and reality. Someone invented these claims for an unknown purpose. There have been no negotiations on this matter, and there is certainly no agreement regarding police enlistment or any such deals. It never happened.
The only issue on the agenda is to restore the previous arrangement, whereby anyone who dedicates their life to Torah study is exempt from enlistment, without conditions and without deals.
Those appointed by the great rabbis are working tirelessly to cancel this harsh decree and to return to the previous arrangement.
May you and all those engaged in this holy work be strengthened, and may the mouths of the liars be silenced."
Earlier today, Galatz reporter Yoeli Barem revealed that the Gur Hasidim had allegedly reached a deal with the Ministry of Defense, whereby they would send about 250 Hasidim to serve in various police roles, in exchange for an exemption from military service for the rest.
According to the report, Gur conducted prolonged negotiations with the Ministry of Defense, with Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Zilberberg, a key figure in Gur, leading the final discussions.
Last week, the sides reportedly reached an understanding that the majority of the Hasidim, aged 18-26 and eligible for the draft, would be exempt, while those who are already out of the study framework would enlist in police roles (even in office positions). In return, the rest of the Hasidim — the married students and the young men — would receive draft exemptions.
It is unclear what impact the exposure of this preliminary agreement by Galatz will have, as it is seen as unequal both within the ultra-Orthodox community and the general public, who have been demanding since the start of the conflict that the ultra-Orthodox community bear its share of the burden.
Galatz sought responses from the IDF, Ministry of Defense, and the police, but none were provided.
