MoGold: With all due respect to the heiliga Satmar Rav Zt”l; we must take into perspective what was going on 50 years ago in the times of the Rav zt”l. The secular Zionists were then trying their utmost to uproot the practice of Yiddishkeit in the state, since they didn’t want the chareidim to become a conflict to the interests of the state. Since the religious life of the Chareidim was B’sakana, the Satmar rav and other Gedolim saw it their duty to fight the secular Zionists using all their means. Many things the Satmar Rav Zt”l may have then said or done were in the category of “Sinah mekalkeles es hashura”, given the atmosphere of distrust and caution that existed between the chareidim and the secular establishment.
However, now 60 years later, the Israeli government has come to a realization that the Charidi population and way of life are here to stay permanently. Therefore, we cannot compare times, and what is needed now is to strike a conciliatory note, and accept our irreligious brethren in Israel for what they are, and be appreciative of their contribution to the physical aspect of Chareidi life in Israel.