Israeli Population Authority Blocks Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dodgers From Flying Abroad Early

The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority has implemented a new measure to prevent thousands of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers from leaving Israel, particularly those seeking to travel to Uman for the Jewish New Year. Previously, individuals with exit bans could bypass automatic passport control gates at Ben Gurion Airport by using a method called "sticking," where they would pass through with another passenger who had no restrictions. This loophole allowed many to evade exit bans undetected.

Under the new system, the exit ban is enforced earlier in the departure process, at the airline check-in stage. Airlines now receive notifications about passengers with exit orders before boarding, preventing these individuals from even registering for flights. This change aims to stop draft dodgers and others with exit restrictions from leaving the country through the airport.

The ultra-Orthodox draft dodger community has expressed strong opposition to the new policy, arguing it will force thousands to remain in Israel during the holiday and block their attempts to leave as they have in the past. The Population and Immigration Authority stated that the recent improvements provide earlier notification of exit bans, allowing individuals to address their legal status before attempting to depart.

This development marks a significant tightening of Israel's exit control procedures, particularly targeting those avoiding military service who travel abroad annually for religious observances.