The Movement for Quality Government in Israel watchdog group called on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the Israel Police to open a criminal investigation into the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael party on Sunday, citing reports that it had encouraged draft evasion and instructed its constituents on how to circumvent a High Court ruling restricting daycare subsidies for children of yeshiva students who fail to enlist.

The conduct of Agudat Yisrael officials “raises serious suspicion of committing serious offenses of fraud and breach of trust,” the organization, which has long advocated for ultra-Orthodox enlistment, said in a statement.

The Movement for Quality Government’s appeal cited reporting by The Times of Israel, which last Thursday published an investigation into a hotline established by Jerusalem Affairs Minister Meir Porush. It also cited reporting by the Ynet news site on a separate hotline dealing with the issue of daycare subsidies.

Worried Haredi yeshiva students and parents who called the hotline set up by Porush have repeatedly been advised to ignore draft orders and lie to the Israel Defense Forces, The Times of Israel found.

Zalman, a member of the ultra-Orthodox community who spoke on condition of anonymity and asked to be identified by a pseudonym, said that he was told to disregard any draft orders sent to his son.

“What they are suggesting at this stage is to ignore it, not deal with it,” he said, claiming that he was told: “If you received an initial call-up order, you are like thousands of others. You don’t have to do anything, just ignore them.”

The Agudat Yisrael faction represents the Hasidic community’s interests within the........

© The Times of Israel