Dozens of Chabad Students Detained at Ben Gurion Airport Released

Dozens of Chabad students who were detained upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday have been released from military prison and are being transferred to the recruitment center. The students, who had been studying in Brooklyn, were arrested due to their irregular military status. Many of the detained students expressed willingness to enlist in the IDF, leading to their release and transfer to the recruitment center. However, not all detainees were freed, and some are expected to face court proceedings and remain in custody. Two individuals were classified as "evading conscription" for over 540 days and were sentenced to detention. The arrests sparked outrage within the Haredi public, particularly concerning the Chabad community and the ongoing debate over yeshiva student conscription. MK Yakov Asher criticized the arrests, suggesting they were intended to disrupt the upcoming elections. The Shas party also strongly condemned the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of unprecedented political interference in the election process. MK Yinon Azulai, acting on behalf of Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, is actively engaging with senior IDF officials to secure the students' immediate release. Historically, Chabad has had an arrangement with the IDF allowing students to enlist about a year after their wedding, following a year of study, in line with the directives of The Rebbe of Lubavitch.