Israel Arrests 42 Chabad Students at Airport Over Draft Evasion

The arrests were part of an effort to enforce military conscription laws.

Of the 42 detained, 27 expressed willingness to enlist in the IDF, were deemed fit for service, and received conditional sentences, with plans to begin their enlistment process soon. However, 13 refused to cooperate with the enlistment process and were sentenced to military prison. An additional two were sent directly to jail for evading service for over 540 days.

Rabbi Shimi Segal, a spokesperson for Chabad, stated that the organization was aware of the potential for arrests and that families had prepared for this possibility. He expressed significant anger over the detentions, criticizing the lack of a solution for the status of yeshiva students. Segal noted that a long-standing arrangement allowed Chabad students to study in the US and enlist after marriage, and called for a renewed agreement.

Segal emphasized that many Chabad members serve in the IDF and advocated for dialogue rather than disruptive protests like road blockades. He stated that blocking roads would not help and that every citizen must follow the law. He described the arrests as a "shaking event" and feared it would negatively impact the willingness of young men to enlist, suggesting that authorities could have simply instructed them to report for enlistment later.

The IDF confirmed its commitment to equal enforcement of the security service law and the fulfillment of the service obligation.