Six Haredi Draft Dodgers Arrested at Ben Gurion Airport

Six Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men evading military service were arrested at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday as they attempted to leave Israel. Two were apprehended at Terminal 1 and four at Terminal 3. Investigations revealed that all six were subject to conscription orders preventing their departure from the country.

The arrests occurred during peak travel times, just before the large influx of travelers expected for the Jewish New Year pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine. Security teams at the airport have recently implemented a new policy to close security loopholes that have been exploited by draft dodgers.

These loopholes allowed individuals with exit bans to "piggyback" on other travelers passing through passport control, bypassing checks and leaving the country without their passports being stamped. The new measures involve reinforcing passport control points with military police and Ministry of Transportation representatives to assist immigration officials.

An additional measure includes a dedicated arrest vehicle stationed on the tarmac to apprehend individuals attempting to circumvent exit procedures. This heightened security is in anticipation of a significant increase in passengers traveling to Uman for the holiday, a common destination for many Haredi Jews.