Aviel Cohen Expected Free Before Shabbat as Credit Battle Erupts Over Release

Aviel Cohen, a married yeshiva student from Netivot jailed for draft evasion, is expected to be released from military prison before Shabbat, after being sentenced just this week to 14 days behind bars. His family was told on Thursday night that the release would happen before nightfall on Friday.

Cohen was arrested early in the week at a gas station near the Gilt intersection, close to Ofakim, in front of his wife. The arrest triggered protests in southern Israel, including road blockages on routes 25 and 241 for several hours. Later that evening, hundreds of students and alumni from Be'er HaTalmud yeshiva arrived by organized buses to protest outside the prison facility, saying Cohen had studied there.

The surprise announcement of his expected release also sparked a public dispute over who deserves credit. MK Yoav Ben Tzur first said he had spoken with Cohen's parents and told them that, through the efforts of Shas chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri, Cohen's sentence would be softened and he would be freed before Shabbat.

Minutes later, Shas issued a formal clarification saying the efforts were actually carried out by the organization Hayei Olam, which works to defend detained yeshiva students, and not, as stated in the earlier message, by Deri. The family was informed of the release on Thursday evening, and Cohen is now expected out of prison before Shabbat begins.