The Conservative movement in Israel led a fake campaign on Israeli streets in the name of Gedolei Yisrael to convince Chareidim not to vote in the elections for the World Zionist Organization, spending tens of thousands of shekels to print and distribute pashkevilim against participating in the elections, a Kikar Shabbat investigation revealed. As many YWN readers know, a machlokes broke out last month in the Chareidi sector about whether to participate in the WZO elections. Members of the Eretz HaKodesh party presented the support of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky zt’l, along with other Rabbanim in Israel and the United States who supported voting in the previous election. However, ultimately, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America and HaGaon HaRav Dov Landua paskened that it is forbidden to participate in the election. Several weeks ago, pashkevilim appeared in Chareidi neighborhoods in the name of HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau calling out against participating in the elections – an unusual move since most Israeli Chareidim were unaware of the details of the issue. The Kikar investigation revealed that Dr. Yizhar Hess, a member of the Conservative movement, who serves on its behalf as Deputy Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, spearheaded the campaign to try to convince Chareidim in Israel not to vote in the elections, printing and disseminating the fake pashkevilim. An invoice obtained by Kikar showed that Mercaz Olami transferred tens of thousands of shekels to fund the printing and distribution of the pashkevilim.. A Charedi source in the WZO told Kikar that “although they tried in every way to conceal their involvement, the Eretz HaKodesh party, which represents the Torah-observant sector in the WZO, is a political and ideological enemy for them, and they are trying to reduce its power. People from the Conservative movement tried to influence public opinion in the Charedi community in order to harm Eretz HaKodesh and prevent it from succeeding in the elections.” In a twisted move, Dr. Hess even tweeted a photo of the pashkevilim on the Chareidi streets that he himself funded, ostensibly to express his solidarity with his “friends” in Eretz Hakodesh who were being attacked. Beyond the moral aspect, the conduct of the Conservative movement raises legal and ethical questions. A senior legal source involved in the details told Kikar that “the distributors of the pashvekelim may be exposed to libel suits, and if indeed elements related to the movement running in the elections are behind them, this may be considered a violation of election laws. Furthermore, the distribution of anti-Zionist material by an association supported by the WZO may be a violation of its budgetary regulations.” The Kikar investigation also revealed that the pashkevilim are only the latest step in the Conservative movement’s years-long campaign to influence the Chareidi sector against Eretz Hakodesh, including attempts to convince Chareidi journalists to convey messages against voting in the elections, ostensibly in the name of Gedolei Yisrael. Needless to say, most of the journalists and media personalities who received the financially lucrative offers refused to join the campaign after it became clear to them who was behind the offer. “Some time ago, a well-known figure from the Chareidi scene approached me, and indirectly and subtly offered me an opportunity to join a campaign in exchange for a very high salary,” a senior Chareidi […]