The Supreme Court of the Netherlands rejected the appeal of Shuvu Banim Breslov hasidic leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland, removing the final impediment to his extradition to Israel, where Berland is wanted for questioning in a series of alleged sex attacks on female followers.
Above: Rabbi Eliezer Berland in handcuffs in Zimbabwe last year
Breslov Leader May Be Extradited For Alleged Sex Crimes, Supreme Court Rules
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The Supreme Court of the Netherlands rejected the appeal of Shuvu Banim Breslov hasidic leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland, removing the penultimate impediment to his extradition to Israel, where Berland is wanted for questioning in a series of alleged sex attacks on female followers.
Berland had tried several deceptions in order to stave off extradition, including falsely claiming to be a Holocaust survivor and most recently claiming that he lived in Betar Illit, which is over the Green Line in the West Bank and arguing that therefore should not be extradited to Israel, which ‘illegally’ controls it.
Berland fled Israel two years ago has run through a series of countries, including Switzerland, Morocco (where he was expelled), Zimbabwe (where he was expelled), South Africa (where he twice narrowly escaped arrest), and Holland – where he was finally caught by police last year as he waited in Amsterdam’s international airport for a flight to Ukraine, where he hoped to spend Rosh Hashana at the grave of Breslov’s founder, Rabbi Nachman.
A final decision on Berland's extradition will be made by the Netherland's Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur.