"We'll shut down the state - we'll go to Tel Aviv": The recordings of the mayor of Beitar Illit

The mayor of Beitar Illit, Meir Rubinstein, called on the ultra-Orthodox public to launch a mass struggle that would shut down the state following the arrests of Haredi draft dodgers. In internal recordings published by Kan News, he drew inspiration from the protest against the judicial overhaul and attacked Netanyahu and Barak.

The mayor of Beitar Illit, Meir Rubinstein, called on the ultra-Orthodox public to launch a mass struggle that would shut down the state, following the arrests of Haredi draft dodgers. This emerges from recordings of internal conversations he held several months ago, published this morning (Wednesday) on the program "This Morning" on Kan News. In the conversations, Rubinstein detailed the methods of action and drew inspiration from the protest against the judicial overhaul: "How did they stop the judicial overhaul? Weapons? No way, weapons. The traffic light! They make it colorblind, they shut down the state. What's allowed for them is allowed for us. They taught us how to wage a struggle," he said. "They came to Bnei Brak, we'll go to Tel Aviv. We need to start limping at intersections, limping in the country." In the recordings, Rubinstein also referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called a "bandit," and said he acts according to the level of pressure. He also attacked former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, whom he called the "Council of Torah Sages" of the seculars, and added that he "sits in a wheelchair like a dog." No response was received from Rubinstein's office.