Eliakim Stark: The Discreet Belz Mediator Steps Into the Political Spotlight

From Belgium to the Corridors of Power

The newly appointed representative of the Belz Hasidic dynasty on the United Torah Judaism (Agudat Yisrael) electoral list, Eliakim Stark, is stepping into the public spotlight after years of operating strictly behind the scenes. Stark, 34, has long been a familiar figure in political corridors and the residences of prominent Torah sages, yet he consistently avoided publicity, interviews, and photographs.

Born in Belgium, Stark was educated in Belz institutions both in Europe and Israel. Following his marriage, he headed a study group for American students at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Several years ago, he was called into public service by the Grand Rabbi of Belz and his son, Rabbi Aaron Mordechai Rokeach. Alongside veteran community activists, Stark helped establish a dedicated committee to manage the political and public interests of the Belz Hasidism, working closely with Deputy Minister Israel Eichler, whom Stark is now set to succeed on the electoral list.

A Key Conduit Between Sages and the Prime Minister

Stark has built a critical channel of communication linking the Belz leadership with the heads of the non-Hasidic Lithuanian yeshiva world—specifically Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rabbi Dov Lando—as well as the spiritual leader of the Shas party, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. Concurrently, Stark became a frequent visitor to the Prime Minister's Office.

According to political insiders, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to gauge the mood within the ultra-Orthodox sector, clarify the stance of a particular rabbinical authority, or establish a discreet channel with a prominent rabbi, Stark is often the mediator he consults.

This relationship proved pivotal during recent coalition crises surrounding the military draft law. Aligned with the Grand Rabbi of Belz’s directive to avoid political instability during the ongoing war, Stark worked quietly across multiple channels—including Hasidic leaders, Lithuanian yeshiva heads, and the Prime Minister's Office—to defuse ultimatums that threatened to topple the government.

Legislative and Municipal Influence

Stark's political portfolio extends across several major legislative and administrative milestones:

• State Budget and Legislation: He was instrumental in securing the passage of the state budget through its consecutive readings despite intense coalition friction, and managed internal consensus during the "trapped profits" tax law dispute.

• Strategic Alliances: He maintains a close working relationship with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, collaborating on ultra-Orthodox community affairs and key public appointments, including negotiations regarding the Director-General of the Israel Land Authority.

• Chief Rabbinate Elections: Behind the scenes, Stark successfully mobilized support for the election of Chief Rabbis Kalman Ber and David Yosef.

• Military Draft Interventions: Stark has actively intervened to resolve friction between yeshiva students and military authorities. In one notable incident in Kiryat Gat, Stark coordinated with the Prime Minister's Office, the President's Office, and senior IDF officials to secure the pre-Shabbat release of an arrested Hasidic student.

Local Government Maneuvers

Stark's strategic footprint is highly visible in municipal politics. In Ashdod, he successfully backed Mayor Yehiel Lasri for re-election, opposing a campaign led by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Gur Hasidism representative Motti Babchik. Stark also pushed for an independent municipal list combining Shlomi Emunim, Belz, and Degel HaTorah, which successfully entered the city council.

Additionally, Stark played key roles in the municipal leadership transitions in Beit Shemesh, assisting in the election of Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, as well as in political maneuvers in Kiryat Gat and Haifa. His transition to the Knesset formalizes a political career that has been active for years away from the cameras.