IDF Can Reach Iranian Scientists But Fails to Apprehend Draft Dodgers in Modi'in

An incident in Modi'in, where law enforcement allegedly fled from religious draft dodgers, has exposed a severe crisis of governance and the inability to enforce conscription laws, even in the face of violence, according to an opinion piece. The author argues that while the IDF and Shin Bet can successfully target individuals in hostile territories like Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and even third-tier countries, they are incapable of arresting a single draft dodger in an apartment building in Modi'in. The piece criticizes the police for not acting decisively, suggesting that the Central District Commander, Amir Cohen, should have ordered a large-scale operation to apprehend the dodgers and those who attacked soldiers and police officers.

The article contrasts the IDF's success in eliminating over 700 terrorists in Gaza and arresting over 3,000 in the West Bank over ten months with its failure to capture approximately 300 draft dodgers nationwide during the same period, noting that only a third of these dodgers are from the Haredi community. The author contends that this situation is a predictable outcome of a government that has neglected security, citing issues such as the lack of state investigation into the October 7th massacre, the failure to properly equip reservists, and the government's financial support for Haredi draft dodgers.

Furthermore, the piece touches upon broader security concerns, including the alleged compromise of civil aviation security, with Israeli airlines potentially using crews from third-world countries without adequate security. It also criticizes the government for allegedly withholding essential equipment orders for the IDF, such as combat helicopters and tanks, due to budget constraints, while reservists are called up for extensive duty and regular soldiers face training limitations.