Haredi Yeshiva Student Helps Draft Dodger Escape Israeli Military Checkpoint in Gush Etzion

A group of Hasidic pilgrims traveling to the tomb of the prophet Amos near the village of Tekoa in the Gush Etzion area was stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint near the T junction. During the inspection, soldiers discovered that one of the passengers was a draft dodger. The soldiers detained the vehicle and called the military police to the scene. According to those involved, the soldiers confiscated the passengers' mobile phones to prevent them from alerting activists from the "Black Flag" movement who might try to obstruct the arrest.

While waiting, a yeshiva student from the nearby settlement of Mitzad arrived and attempted to persuade the soldiers to release the passengers. When negotiations failed, a confrontation ensued. The student then opened the vehicle door and called the draft dodger to escape. The draft dodger got into the yeshiva student's car, and the two fled the scene before the military police arrived. By the time the military police reached the checkpoint, the draft dodger was already gone. The other passengers were later released and continued their journey.