Israeli Police Avoid Responsibility for Draft Evasion Arrests After Supreme Court Freeze

A week after Israeli Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levi publicly pledged to comply with the Supreme Court's rulings, the police have evaded responsibility following the court's order to freeze the law permitting arrests of draft evaders. The Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the enforcement of the law until a hearing before an expanded panel, led by Justice Yitzhak Amit. When asked by Channel 14 News whether the police would continue making arrests despite the injunction, the police declined to answer directly and instead shifted responsibility to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

This response is notable given that last week, Levi sharply criticized the IDF in a closed meeting, accusing the military of offloading the responsibility for arresting draft evaders onto the police and then withdrawing from the issue. Despite the police's current stance, Israeli police officers have been actively involved in arrests alongside the IDF as part of their cooperation.

The recent developments highlight ongoing tensions regarding the enforcement of the draft law, the division of authority between the police and the military, and how law enforcement agencies will act pending the Supreme Court's final decision. The situation remains fluid as the legal and operational responsibilities continue to be contested amid public protests and political debate.