IDF Shifts Tactics in Apprehending Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dodgers

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have largely ceased targeted arrests of ultra-Orthodox men evading military service within their residential areas. Instead, these individuals are now primarily apprehended at Ben Gurion Airport and other border crossings as they attempt to leave or re-enter Israel, according to Ynet's religious affairs correspondent Shilo Fried.

Approximately 70 ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers are currently held in military prison at the Beit Lid base, with most having been detained at the border. Some were returning from Uman, Ukraine, a popular pilgrimage site for tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews during Rosh Hashanah. Ynet estimates the number of detainees will soon decrease.

The shift away from neighborhood arrests has coincided with a reduction in mass protests and road blockades by the ultra-Orthodox community in central Israel. Previously, the High Court of Justice mandated equal service, but the military cited insufficient police resources for neighborhood arrests, which often led to large-scale protests and clashes.

Legal counsel to the government, in a report to the High Court, acknowledged the difficulties in apprehending these individuals due to the significant forces and resources required to counter ensuing riots. IDF representatives stated they aim to minimize clashes by carefully selecting arrest locations and times.

Meanwhile, the organization "Am Kadosh," which aids arrested ultra-Orthodox individuals, has issued guidance for those in military prison, framing their detention as a defense of Judaism. The organization advises detainees on religious rights and interactions within the prison.

Separately, the IDF has noted a rise in ultra-Orthodox recruits seeking exemption from service on psychiatric grounds, suspecting a coordinated scheme involving falsified medical reports from a single clinic. The IDF is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and police to investigate potential misconduct by psychiatrists and legal firms involved in these exemption requests, noting that such practices are not exclusive to the ultra-Orthodox community. The IDF is also revising its procedures for psychiatric exemption requests to prevent unauthorized applications.