Israeli Government Reports Rise in Ultra-Orthodox Military Enlistment Amid Ongoing Draft Evasion

The Israeli Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, submitted an update to the Supreme Court on Tuesday regarding the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The report indicates a notable increase in Haredi recruitment in 2025, with 4,298 enlistees compared to 2,811 the previous year. This rise is attributed to economic sanctions, arrests, and the introduction of tailored military tracks encouraging both combat and support roles for the Haredi community.

Despite this progress, the phenomenon of draft evasion remains widespread, with approximately 80% of all draft dodgers still coming from the Haredi population. The Attorney General highlighted that expanding civil and economic benefits for those who comply with military service could significantly boost regular army numbers. Coordination between the IDF and police has improved regarding proactive arrests of draft evaders, though large-scale protests by the Haredi community complicate enforcement efforts and require substantial resource allocation.

Since the start of 2026, 348 indictments have been filed against draft evaders, including 34 against Haredi individuals, compared to 422 indictments in all of 2025, with 81 targeting Haredim. Baharav-Miara emphasized the urgent need to broaden economic enforcement measures and resume proactive arrest operations across all population sectors to uphold equality and deter draft evasion, which is critical for addressing Israel’s pressing security needs.