Netanyahu Intervenes After 50 Ultra-Orthodox Students Detained at Ben Gurion Airport

Approximately 50 young Haredi men, students from the Chabad movement's "House No. 770" in New York, were detained at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, October 20, upon their return to Israel. The students, who had spent a year studying abroad, were identified by the military as draft dodgers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had increased their presence at the airport in anticipation of the students' arrival. A bus was later brought to the airport to transfer the detainees to military custody. Among those detained was reportedly the brother of a prominent Haredi journalist, who is now seeking to understand the implications for his brother and the other students. Some individuals had their passports confiscated, with authorities suspecting them of failing to report for conscription. Initially, the students believed their detention would be brief, but they were informed it was necessary for disciplinary proceedings. Reports indicate that dozens have since been released, with the remainder being processed by the military.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the detentions in an interview with the Haredi radio station Kol Barama. He stated that while he respects Torah scholars, those who do not study should serve in the IDF. Netanyahu described the detentions as a "deliberate attempt to harm the process of drafting the ultra-Orthodox without coercion." He expressed hope that a new conscription law could be passed, emphasizing the need for a renewed distribution of responsibility between the ultra-Orthodox and secular segments of Israeli society. Netanyahu also acknowledged the disappointment within the ultra-Orthodox community regarding the previous failure to pass the conscription bill, which he attributed to a single vote.

Opposition leaders have accused Netanyahu of making political deals with ultra-Orthodox parties. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar!" party, claimed Netanyahu is promising exemptions in exchange for support in forming a government, framing the upcoming election as a choice between a "government of draft evasion" and a "patriotic government." Naftali Bennett, leader of the "Bayahad" party, alleged a "Bibi-Deri deal" for power, suggesting Netanyahu promised an exemption law to Shas party leader Arie Deri. Bennett claimed this would legitimize draft evasion for 120,000 ultra-Orthodox individuals and vowed to redirect funds from draft dodgers to soldiers.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the "Yisrael Beiteinu" party, also criticized Netanyahu, calling him a "hostage" to ultra-Orthodox political forces. Lieberman vowed that in the next government, everyone would be drafted without exemptions or "backroom deals," promising to redirect 30 billion shekels from draft dodgers to soldiers.