IDF to Resume Draft Evasion Arrests After Holiday Pause

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it will resume proactive operations to locate and arrest draft evaders starting in October, following a pause during the recent Jewish holidays. The decision came after a review meeting with Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon, where data revealed that 212 draft evaders were apprehended at border crossings in September, including 163 ultra-Orthodox individuals. Of these, 64 managed to leave Israel undetected and were only arrested upon their return.

Following this, the Population and Immigration Authority was tasked with investigating potential loopholes that allow individuals obligated to military service to exit the country without being stopped. The IDF confirmed that proactive arrests were suspended during the holidays to focus enforcement efforts at border crossings. Limon urged the IDF to restart proactive arrest operations and also called for a review of prosecution policies, suggesting a reduction in the time required for prosecution of evasion cases to increase the number of indictments.

Ultra-Orthodox political parties expressed concern over the resumption of proactive enforcement, fearing it could reignite anger in the ultra-Orthodox public and lead to confrontations, similar to recent events in Modi'in. They are also worried about the political fallout, including increased anger among young ultra-Orthodox men towards their representatives in the Knesset for failing to resolve the status of Torah students and pass a conscription law. The return of the conscription issue to the public agenda could potentially harm the political strength of ultra-Orthodox parties and the stability of the right-wing bloc.