Israeli Government Urges Renewed Arrests and Stricter Sanctions on Draft Dodgers, Especially Among Haredi Youth

The Israeli Attorney General has called on the IDF and police to resume proactive operations and arrests targeting draft dodgers, following a review of the 2025-2026 conscription year. The report, chaired by the Attorney General and involving representatives from the IDF, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Israeli Police, Population Authority, and digital units, found that approximately 80% of all draft evaders were from the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. Despite this high evasion rate, the report also noted an increase in enlistment numbers among Haredi youth.

The review highlighted that issuing conscription orders to all eligible Haredi individuals, combined with enhanced economic and personal enforcement measures and tailored service tracks, effectively contributed to the rise in enlistments. The Ministry of Justice emphasized the urgent need to expand these enforcement tools to further reduce draft evasion and address the critical security requirement to grow the military.

In addition to broadening economic and personal sanctions, the Attorney General mandated that the IDF and police reinstate proactive arrest campaigns against draft evaders from all sectors, stressing the principle of equality before the law. Experts involved in the review underscored the deterrent effect of such operations and arrests in combating evasion.