SCANDAL UNCOVERED: Conservative Movement Funded Anti-WZO Campaign in Chareidi Neighborhoods

In a investigative report released by Kikar HaShabbat, it has come to light that a Conservative-affiliated nonprofit organization allegedly funded the printing and distribution of street posters and pashkevilim in chareidi neighborhoods across Israel, spending tens of thousands of shekels on the campaign. These materials were aimed at dissuading participation in the upcoming elections for the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The report also reveals covert attempts to recruit chareidi journalists under the guise of a “campaign against avodah zarah” in an effort to manipulate public opinion within the frum world.

The findings raise serious ethical, legal, and communal concerns regarding the extent to which outside ideological forces are attempting to meddle in internal matters of the chareidi community, while falsely cloaking themselves in the language of daas Torah.

Conservative Figures Behind the Campaign

The investigation centers on a nonprofit called Merkaz Olami, which manages the activities of the Conservative Movement within the WZO. The organization is led by CEO Mr. Mauricio Beltr and board member Dr. Yizhar Hess, a prominent representative of the Conservative Movement who also serves as Vice Chairman of the WZO and a member of its executive.

A revealing photo shows Beltr and Hess leading a Torah procession during a Rosh Chodesh event associated with Women of the Wall, highlighting their ideological leanings and activist involvement.

Hidden Hands Behind the Posters

Several weeks ago, residents of major chareidi population centers began noticing walls plastered with posters urging non-participation in the WZO elections. These posters appeared to represent rabbinic opposition to voting in the elections—an issue still debated in the Diaspora and among gedolei Yisroel.

On one side of the debate, Rav Dov Landau has strongly opposed participation. On the other, the Eretz HaKodesh slate—which made headlines when it entered the WZO elections in 2020 under the leadership of Rabbi Pesach Lerner—has pointed to the public support they received in the past from Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and other gedolim in both the U.S. and Israel.

While the posters gave the appearance of a grassroots campaign from within the chareidi community, Kikar HaShabbat uncovered a paper trail proving otherwise. A leaked invoice  (see below) shows that Merkaz Olami paid tens of thousands of shekels for the production and distribution of the posters. The posters were intentionally crafted to appear as if they came from within the frum community, concealing their true source.

Misleading and Potentially Illegal Conduct

A senior source in the WZO’s chareidi faction explained to Kikar HaShabbat: “Despite their efforts to obscure their involvement, it’s obvious that the Conservative Movement views Eretz HaKodesh as a threat, both ideologically and politically. They’re trying to weaken our representation by manipulating chareidi public opinion with misinformation.”

Beyond the ethical impropriety of impersonating chareidi rabbinic voices, the Conservative Movement’s conduct may have crossed legal lines. A senior legal official told Kikar HaShabbat that those involved in posting the materials could be liable for lashon hara (defamation). If parties running in the elections were involved, it could constitute a breach of election law. Furthermore, if anti-Zionist content was distributed using funds from a body supported by the WZO, it might violate the WZO’s own funding policies.

Attempted Influence Over Chareidi Media

The posters were just the tip of the iceberg. The report reveals that for several years, Conservative operatives have been engaged in a broader campaign to sway public opinion in the chareidi world. As part of this strategy, they attempted to recruit influential chareidi journalists to promote anti-Eretz HaKodesh messaging.

According to a respected media insider who spoke to Kikar HaShabbat under condition of anonymity, “Not long ago, someone from within the chareidi PR world approached me indirectly with an offer to join a campaign—promising a generous paycheck. The goal was to create media and social pressure against Eretz HaKodesh, portraying them as Zionist infiltrators.”

Once the journalist discovered the campaign was backed by the Conservative Movement, he declined the offer, stating: “As tempting as it was, I couldn’t participate in something driven by their agenda. I know they approached others as well.”

Another prominent chareidi PR strategist confirmed that powerful figures from the general Israeli media helped facilitate the campaign. “A top PR firm even offered a ‘blank check’ to any chareidi consultant willing to lead the campaign,” he said. “They used major media personalities to try to lure key figures in the chareidi press. This wasn’t a spontaneous protest—it was a coordinated, well-funded effort to smear Eretz HaKodesh over the long term.”

Double-Faced Tweets

Adding to the deception, Dr. Yizhar Hess—who serves as a senior executive in Merkaz Olami—retweeted the very posters his organization funded, pretending to empathize with Eretz HaKodesh as if he were not involved. His tweets gave the false impression that he was merely observing the controversy, rather than orchestrating it from behind the scenes.

The report concludes by emphasizing the dangerous implications of such outside interference. What was initially seen as a simple poster campaign has now been exposed as part of a much larger, coordinated strategy that may have legal, ethical, and halachic consequences.