Israel's Legal Advisor Proposes Stripping Draft Dodgers of Benefits

The number of individuals evading military conscription in Israel has surpassed 110,000, with the vast majority belonging to the ultra-Orthodox sector, according to figures presented to the High Court of Justice (BAGATS) by Legal Advisor to the Government Gali Baharav-Miara on Wednesday, October 21. Baharav-Miara asserted that the state has not exhausted its options for combating draft evasion and suggested the court consider additional measures to revoke economic benefits for those who do not enlist. Operations to identify and detain draft dodgers were reportedly not conducted between July 1 and October 12. Furthermore, 192 individuals who were obligated to report for service and were apprehended during routine police encounters were released without being handed over to military police, as the army often failed to collect them within the stipulated timeframe.

Baharav-Miara emphasized that while the army bears responsibility for conscription, tackling widespread evasion requires a joint effort from all state bodies. She noted that cooperation between the army and police, crucial for equitable law enforcement towards ultra-Orthodox individuals and other citizens, remains insufficient. The government has yet to establish a policy on economic sanctions against draft dodgers, despite a High Court mandate to do so by January 4, 2026. The court also ordered the government by April 26, 2026, to strip benefits from ultra-Orthodox individuals evading military service, in a ruling related to contempt of court for failing to enforce conscription.

Despite these issues, the number of ultra-Orthodox individuals enlisting has seen an increase, with 4,298 joining in 2025 compared to 2,811 in 2024, according to army data. However, Baharav-Miara cautioned that this positive trend falls short of the army's current needs and the principle of equality, both in terms of numbers and the pace of recruitment, as well as the number assigned to combat roles. The Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday, October 21, sharply criticized the state's actions, citing repeated delays by the IDF in responding to key questions regarding the severity of punishments for desertion, detention periods, and potential disparities in sentencing between ultra-Orthodox individuals and other offenders.

Data published by Ynet on October 19, 2026, revealed a decline in detentions of draft dodgers from the ultra-Orthodox sector, even as desertions increased. Since the beginning of 2026, only 437 individuals have been arrested, while over 76,000 are listed as deserters. This contrasts with 2023, when 674 arrests were made despite approximately 7,000 deserters. The article highlights an "absurd" trend of rising draft dodgers accompanied by decreasing arrests. In 2024, 490 were arrested out of 14,467 deserters; in 2025, 519 were arrested out of 55,594; and from the start of 2026, 437 were arrested out of 76,809 listed as evading conscription. The report indicates that measures to ensure conscription have weakened in recent years, with no significant efforts made to enforce call-up notices.