Thousands of Yeshiva Students Received Draft Evasion Orders, Few Enlist
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Over 15,000 yeshiva students received draft evasion orders between July 2023 and October 2025, with only 2,187 ultra-Orthodox students enlisting in the IDF during that time. Data reveals significantly lower enlistment and higher evasion rates in ultra-Orthodox population centers, where arrests are notably absent. Senior ultra-Orthodox figures, including MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, have publicly condemned draft enforcement actions and vowed to resist them.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Over 15,000 yeshiva students received draft evasion orders between July 2023 and October 2025.
- Only 2,187 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students enlisted in the IDF during the same period.
- Cities with high evasion rates like Bnei Brak and Modi'in Illit saw no recent arrests.
- Be'er Sheva had a high enlistment rate of 87% among Order 12 recipients.
- Ultra-Orthodox protest groups have successfully blocked draft dodger arrests.
- MK Yitzhak Goldknopf condemned draft enforcement and vowed to fight for religious lifestyle rights.
Over 15,000 yeshiva students received "Order 12" notices between July 2023 and October 2025, according to data revealed by the Movement for Freedom of Information. This order is issued to individuals who failed to report for their initial draft assessment or complete required procedures like medical exams or psychometric tests. While receiving Order 12 does not automatically classify someone as a draft dodger, as many do eventually report and enlist, some do become deserters. During the same period, only 2,187 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students enlisted in the IDF.
The Military Police resumed a limited number of arrests for draft evasion among the ultra-Orthodox after a freeze since August. However, in cities with significantly higher rates of draft evasion, no arrests were made. Data indicates that cities with the highest evasion rates among yeshiva students receiving Order 12 include Bnei Brak (4.3% enlistment rate), Ashdod (4.6%), Modi'in Illit (6.2%), Arad (3.8%), and Rekhasim (4.1%). No arrests occurred in these locations recently.
In contrast, Be'er Sheva shows a relatively positive example, with 84 out of 97 Order 12 recipients enlisting (87%). The IDF has previously stated there is no discrimination in arrests or locations, but the data suggests enforcement is notably weaker within ultra-Orthodox communities compared to those living in mixed populations. This lack of enforcement is further highlighted by protest groups within the ultra-Orthodox community successfully thwarting some arrests. An example occurred recently in Modi'in, where approximately 1,500 individuals from Modi'in Illit surrounded a building late at night, blocking the IDF force's exit and leading to the decision to forgo an arrest.
Senior figures in the ultra-Orthodox public, such as MK Rabbi Yitzhak Goldknopf, Chairman of Agudat Yisrael, provide support for this stance. Goldknopf stated that the nighttime raid on a private home to apprehend a yeshiva student is a disgrace to a Jewish state and that the persecution of Torah scholars has reached its peak, holding the Prime Minister responsible. He vowed to fight for the right to maintain a Jewish way of life in Israel.
Mentioned
