Israeli Attorney General Urges Police and IDF to Intensify Enforcement Against Draft Dodgers in Haredi Community

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara called on the police and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase enforcement measures against draft dodgers within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. She highlighted that draft evasion remains widespread, with approximately 80% of all draft dodgers coming from the Haredi population. Baharav-Miara emphasized the need to promptly expand personal economic enforcement actions and reinstate arrests of draft evaders from all sectors of society.

Military representatives attending a discussion led by Baharav-Miara indicated that the number of arrests of deserters is expected to rise. This increase is partly due to proactive efforts to locate draft dodgers at border crossings during the Jewish High Holidays (Tishrei), a period when thousands of draft evaders attempt to leave Israel for Uman. Last year, over 100 deserters were arrested using this method, and with the growing number of Haredi draft evaders this year, the figure is anticipated to climb further.