Israel's Attorney General Demands Urgent Crackdown on Draft Dodgers

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has urgently called for enhanced enforcement against draft dodgers, specifically within the Haredi community, demanding an increase in proactive enforcement and field arrests. This demand comes after a revelation that 64 draft evaders managed to leave Israel undetected, only to be apprehended upon their return. Approximately 163 of those arrested were estimated to be from the Haredi public, with all facing legal proceedings, mostly through disciplinary measures. At the Taba crossing, 20 individuals identified as Haredi were caught attempting to leave Israel. The Population and Immigration Authority stated that identified loopholes have been closed and any suspected "border theft" cases have been transferred to the police or IDF. Military officials noted a recent lack of proactive enforcement and arrests, attributed to a focus on border crossings and holiday preparations. In the past two months, only about ten conscription-obligated individuals were arrested through joint police-IDF efforts. Military officials announced that proactive enforcement will resume in October, coordinated between the Military Police and civilian police stations. The Attorney General's office also highlighted that from the beginning of the year until September 23, 360 indictments were filed against absentees, 49 of them against Haredi conscription-obligated individuals. Efforts are underway to expedite legal proceedings against absentees, shortening the time to prosecution after absence and after reporting to the recruitment center. The Deputy Attorney General emphasized the need to urgently improve enforcement levels, stating that the current situation is incompatible with security needs, the principle of equality, and the state's commitments to the High Court of Justice.