Opposition Outraged After Haredi Protesters Free Draft Dodger From Military Police

Opposition leaders sharply criticized the government on Monday following an unusual incident in Modi'in Illit, where hundreds of Haredi protesters successfully secured the release of a draft dodger apprehended by the military police. Soldiers from the Military Police (Mitzpeh) were forced to evacuate the scene under heavy guard.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned of further disaster, stating that the state cannot tolerate a situation where soldiers and police are ambushed by hundreds of extremist rioters who negotiate their safe exit. Bennett blamed the coalition leadership and declared that in "our government, those who do not serve will not receive a shekel."

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid questioned the rule of law, describing how a Haredi draft dodger was arrested, but hundreds of Haredim arrived, shouted "Nazis" at the police, and violently rioted, leading to the draft dodger's release. "Is there finally no law in the country?" he asked.

Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats, intensified the criticism, asserting that "Haredi militias have surrendered the police" and drawing a direct line from the draft evasion enabled by Netanyahu to anarchy.

The incident began when military police arrived in Modi'in Illit to arrest the draft dodger. Within a short time, dozens, then hundreds, of protesters arrived, clashed with the forces, and even breached the building where the soldiers and the draft dodger were held. Large police reinforcements were required to extract the soldiers, and the draft dodger was ultimately released.