Holland’s Supreme Court rejected the appeal filed on behalf of Rabbi Eliezer Berland, a final step before he is extradited to Israel. The court decided the leader of the Shuvu Banim community will be extradited to Israel in compliance with an Israel Police request.

Last Shevat the court announced its ruling in the case, deciding Rabbi Berland would be handed over to Israeli authorities and the rabbi’s attorney decided to appeal. The rabbi’s lawyer explained that when the rabbi left Israel he was living in Betar Illit, over the Green Line, trying to show the Israeli extradition request was not valid since the rabbi was not living in the State of Israel and therefore Israeli law is not binding on him.

Rabbi Berland left Israel two years ago when a number of women in the kehilla filed police complaints against him. The rav fled to Switzerland, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Johannesburg, and then to Holland.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)