Ultra-Orthodox Mob Blocks Military Arrest of Draft Dodger in Modi'in

In an unusual incident overnight between Monday and Tuesday, military police attempted to arrest a young ultra-Orthodox man designated as a draft dodger at a building in Modi'in. Within a short time, over 1,500 ultra-Orthodox individuals gathered, blocking the police from leaving the building and confronting the officers. Large police reinforcements were dispatched to the scene to extract the soldiers and restore order. Ultimately, the draft dodger was released. Reports indicate the young man was already in handcuffs when the confrontation began, but due to the large crowd and fear of escalation, the decision was made to release him. After the forces departed, the draft dodger was filmed sitting on a car roof, receiving sweets from protesters, while dancing and celebrations took place. Some attendees shouted "Nazis" and "release the hostage" at the forces.

The incident sparked sharp reactions from the political system. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, criticized the event, stating, "Again, Netanyahu's partners are rioting, attacking soldiers and police who came to arrest a draft dodger in Modi'in, and helping him escape under the cover of a crowd shouting 'Nazis' at them and 'release the hostage.'" He added, "It is simply unbearable that IDF soldiers have to flee under heavy police escort as if they were in Jenin and not in Modi'in." Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, also condemned the incident, writing, "Tonight we saw crowds forcibly prevent the arrest of a draft dodger. This is a dangerous worldview that seeks to normalize draft evasion and make those who fulfill their duty to the country suckers." Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, stated that "ultra-Orthodox militias have subdued the police," arguing that the incident illustrates the link between draft evasion and lawlessness. He criticized the Netanyahu government, asserting that "those who are given permission to evade [service] quickly learn that they are allowed to disregard the entire law."

The incident occurred after nearly two months with almost no proactive operations to arrest ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers in their homes. Just last week, a procession of thousands of ultra-Orthodox individuals and dozens of draft dodgers took place in Jerusalem, during which some participants carried signs calling the IDF "the enemy's army."