IDF-Police Dispute Cancels Draft Evasion Arrest Operation
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A planned operation by the IDF to arrest Haredi draft evaders was canceled due to a dispute with the police over security responsibilities. The IDF claims the police demanded too many officers for public order, while police say the IDF is not meeting its obligations. The State Attorney General has pushed for these operations to resume. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions regarding the enforcement of conscription laws for the Haredi community.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An IDF operation to arrest Haredi draft evaders was canceled due to a dispute with the police.
- The IDF accused police of demanding 300 officers for public order, a task police say is the IDF's responsibility.
- Police claim the IDF fails to meet procedures for arresting draft evaders, citing 144 recent failures.
- The State Attorney General has urged the IDF to resume draft evader arrest operations.
- The dispute centers on security arrangements for operations that have previously led to disturbances.
- Free Israel criticized the government's inaction on enforcing conscription laws for draft evaders.
The Israeli military has accused the police of canceling a multi-day operation to arrest Haredi yeshiva students evading mandatory military service. The operation, scheduled to begin next week, was called off after the police informed the IDF on Wednesday that it would not proceed. IDF sources claim the cancellation stems from the police's demand for 300 military police officers to handle public disturbances, a task they assert falls under civilian police authority.
In response, Israeli police officials stated that arresting draft evaders is the responsibility of the IDF and military police, with the civilian police acting in a supporting role. They further alleged that the IDF is not adhering to procedures for enforcing draft laws, citing 144 instances since July where the IDF failed to dispatch a military police representative within the required 30-hour timeframe after random encounters with draft dodgers. In these cases, the police issued summonses to enlistment centers instead of making arrests.
The State Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has repeatedly urged the IDF to resume draft evader arrest operations, particularly after the military admitted to halting them during the recent Jewish holidays due to sensitivity. Meanwhile, the state has requested an extension for its response to a petition filed by Free Israel and other organizations, which accuses the government of failing to enforce conscription laws and sanctions against draft evaders.
The core of the dispute between the IDF and police revolves around security arrangements for these arrest operations, with each body expecting the other to provide the necessary security detail to manage potential riots and disturbances, which have occurred in the past during the apprehension of Haredi draft evaders. The Attorney General's office had previously instructed the police to provide security for IDF operations, but the ongoing disagreement has led to the cancellation of operations and a lack of effective coordination.
The IDF stated that its responsibility is to carry out the arrests, while the police are responsible for maintaining public order. They noted that dozens of draft evaders have been arrested recently by military police, some in conjunction with the civilian police. The police countered that they are a supporting element and that the IDF needs to deploy sufficient forces for an effective operation, promising their participation if the IDF meets these operational requirements. Free Israel CEO Ori Keidar criticized the government's inaction, stating it sides with draft evaders over those who serve.
