Hundreds of Haredim Protest Arrest of Draft Dodger, Leading to His Release

Hundreds of Haredi men protested in Modi'in on Tuesday night against the arrest of a draft dodger by the Military Police. The protest escalated into confrontations with police officers, and the draft dodger was subsequently released. Following his release, military police were escorted out of the building where the individual lived with his family. The protesters, who had surrounded the building, were later forcibly removed from the street by riot police and officers using batons.

The Military Police and regular police arrived around midnight to arrest the draft dodger. Protesters claimed the young man himself called for support, and hundreds quickly arrived from Jerusalem and the nearby city of Modi'in Illit. They surrounded the building, preventing soldiers from leaving with the detainee. Clashes erupted between the protesters and police outside, as officers tried to keep the crowds from entering. Protesters hurled insults at the police, calling them "Nazis" and "release the hostage," and shouting, "We will not let you destroy the world of Torah. Get out of this country."

Confrontations also occurred between the protesters and local residents. The draft dodger's rabbis arrived at the scene, and afterward, the Military Police and regular police decided to release him. A rabbi exiting the building informed the protesters that the yeshiva student had been released.

Last month, the IDF decided to halt proactive arrest operations against yeshiva students who evade military service. Senior military officials cited operational considerations, including the need to allocate forces to other missions due to security tensions around the holidays. However, senior law enforcement officials suggested the decision stemmed from concerns by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Head of the Manpower Directorate Dadi Bar-Klipa that actions against the Haredi population during an election period could inflame the situation.

Earlier last month, the High Court of Justice overturned a proposed law that would have prevented arrest, investigation, or enforcement proceedings against Torah scholars eligible for service until November 30. The law had been approved despite opposition from the Attorney General's office and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and five petitions were filed against it. The court noted that from the beginning of the year until June 11, 165 draft dodgers or evaders were arrested through proactive Military Police operations, with only 16 being Haredi. During the same period, 81 evaders and dodgers were randomly detained by police, and 17 were transferred from prison custody to the Military Police. While the court stated the latter figures did not explicitly identify Haredim, it was implied from the context. Additionally, out of 333 evaders arrested at border crossings between January and May 2025, 105 were identified as Haredi.