Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Thwart Military Arrests of Draft Dodgers

Military police attempts to detain three more ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers failed overnight Thursday, October 8, as dozens of protesters in Bat Yam and Dimona gathered at the men's homes and forcibly prevented their arrests. This has become a practiced method, with special alert systems within the ultra-Orthodox community facilitating organized protests to "rescue" draft dodgers from police. Protesters celebrated the military's retreat with dancing, according to Ynet.

In Bat Yam, a military police operation to arrest one draft dodger was thwarted when the individual sent out an alert, prompting a crowd of dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters to converge on his home, forcing the military to leave without making an arrest. Similarly, in Dimona, military police responding to two addresses of yeshiva students eligible for conscription were met with an "all clear" alert, drawing dozens of ultra-Orthodox individuals who disrupted both planned detentions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are attempting to resume targeted arrests of draft dodgers after a two-month hiatus, but several recent operations have been unsuccessful. On Tuesday, October 6, hundreds of radical ultra-Orthodox individuals disrupted an arrest attempt in Modi'in, causing riots, entering the building where the target resided, and clashing with police. Footage showed protesters inside the apartment with police present, ultimately leading to the military's withdrawal without the individual. The draft dodger was then hailed as a hero, lifted onto a car roof to address a cheering crowd.

Residents of the Modi'in apartment building expressed terror, initially mistaking the mob for terrorists and fearing a repeat of the October 7 attacks. One resident described the chaos as feeling like intruders were in her living room, initially thinking they were Arabs disguised as ultra-Orthodox. She and her husband hid their children and armed themselves. Residents reported calling the police from 00:30, but significant forces only arrived at 01:30 to restore order. Residents felt abandoned, with police allegedly hesitant to confront the crowd without backup. One police officer was reportedly injured by a thrown flower pot and taken for medical attention.

Sources within the IDF have blamed the police for the failed arrests, emphasizing the need for police assistance in civilian areas. A police source countered that they responded as backup as agreed, questioning the outcome. Meanwhile, the radical ultra-Orthodox faction "Jerusalem Wing" (Peleg Yerushalmi) threatened to block roads in Jerusalem and Gush Dan during peak hours on Thursday, October 8, in protest of the 20-day detention orders issued to two ultra-Orthodox individuals in Beersheba and Eilat.