Israel's Attorney General Warns of 110,000 Draft Dodgers, Proposes Economic Sanctions

Israel's Attorney General has warned of a growing phenomenon of military draft evasion, reporting that approximately 110,000 individuals obligated to enlist are currently violating the law. She stated that the state is not utilizing all available enforcement tools to combat this issue. This update was presented to the Israeli Supreme Court, where the Attorney General suggested considering additional executive orders to deny draft dodgers economic benefits, aiming to strengthen law enforcement and pressure authorities for more effective measures.

The warning comes amid ongoing debate in Israel regarding the conscription of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews, who historically receive exemptions tied to Torah study in religious academies. There are increasing demands to draft them like other segments of the population obligated to military service.

Confrontations have intensified in recent months, with the Israeli military and police increasing efforts to apprehend draft evaders. This has led to large protests by Haredim in several Israeli cities against the arrest of young men and yeshiva students refusing to enlist. In early October, clashes occurred in Modi'in between military police and hundreds of protesters attempting to prevent the arrest of a young man, leading to his unhindered departure. Protests, including road blockages, also took place in Jerusalem and other areas, with police dispersing demonstrators.

On October 20, the Israeli military police arrested at least 40 Haredi men at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of draft evasion, according to the IDF. These arrests occurred amidst escalating controversy over applying the conscription law to Haredim and growing pressure on the government to enhance enforcement.

The roots of the crisis lie in the long-standing dispute over exemptions for Haredi yeshiva students. In June 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no legal basis for continued blanket exemptions, opening the door for the conscription of eligible individuals and the cessation of government funding for religious institutions whose students do not enlist.

Haredi parties, notably Shas and United Torah Judaism, maintain their opposition to mandatory conscription for yeshiva students, viewing Torah study as a religious duty equivalent to military service. However, calls are mounting within Israel to apply the law equally to all groups, given the military's personnel needs.

The Attorney General's warning coincides with rising criticism of insufficient enforcement. Israeli media reports indicate a significant gap between the number of individuals evading conscription and the actual number of arrests, with accusations that the government and military are yielding to protests. The military, however, asserts that enforcement measures are ongoing and conducted in accordance with the law. The proposal before the Supreme Court could expand sanctions against draft dodgers to include the denial of economic benefits and stipends, in addition to existing criminal measures, in an effort to compel the state to take practical steps to curb the phenomenon.