Israel Police and IDF Trade Blame Over Failed Arrest of Draft Dodger
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
An attempted arrest of a Haredi draft dodger in Modi'in failed when hundreds of protesters intervened, leading to the individual's release and a dispute between the Israel Police and the IDF over who made the final decision. Police claim the IDF decided to release the man after assessing the situation, while the IDF states the police made the decision and they executed it. The incident marks the first proactive arrest attempt in about 40 days, with enforcement against draft dodgers continuing.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Israel Police and IDF are blaming each other for the decision to release a Haredi draft dodger in Modi'in.
- Hundreds of protesters gathered, clashing with forces and preventing the Military Police from completing the arrest.
- Police claim the IDF made the final decision to release the draft dodger after assessing the situation.
- The IDF states the Israel Police decided on the release and they carried it out.
- This was the first proactive arrest of a draft dodger in approximately 40 days.
- Enforcement actions against draft dodgers and evaders by the IDF are continuing.
An attempted arrest of a draft-dodging Haredi man in Modi'in ended without success overnight after hundreds of protesters arrived at the scene, clashed with forces, and hindered the Military Police's operation. Police forces were called in to disperse the gathering and extract the Military Police soldiers, ultimately leading to the draft dodger's release. The incident has sparked a blame game between the police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding who decided to release the individual.
Police sources claim there was prior coordination and preparation with the IDF for the operation. They assert that after the events unfolded, the IDF assessed the situation and decided on the release. These sources reject allegations of a lack of governance, stating the police acted to restore order and rescue the Military Police soldiers. One police source called the governance claims "insolence" and reiterated that the police were prepared to assist the Military Police as agreed.
Conversely, the IDF presents a different account. According to the military, the decision to issue the draft dodger an order to regulate his status and release him was made "in order to disperse the demonstration." The IDF contends that the decision was made by the Israel Police, and they merely executed it. A military source criticized the police's conduct, questioning the potential for disaster. This source stated that all relevant parties had made it clear the police should assist the Military Police in carrying out the arrest and managing civil disorder.
The dispute comes after a roughly 40-day period without proactive arrests of draft dodgers. The last such arrest by the IDF was on August 25 in Haifa, making the Modi'in operation the first since the resumption of these arrests. Reports suggest the move has also caused internal debate within Haredi parties, with some believing draft dodger arrests bolster the public campaign around "the right to be Haredi."
Meanwhile, the IDF clarifies that enforcement actions against draft dodgers and evaders continue. The military stated that during the Modi'in incident, numerous protesters gathered to disrupt the Military Police, interfere with the arrest, and endanger the soldiers' safety. The police stated they acted to extract the soldiers and restore public order.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Centre 7Right 5Haredi 1Arab 3Other 4
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
