Military Police officers in civilian clothing raided a family home in Kiryat Shmuel, Haifa, late Monday night and arrested 22-year-old Shmuel Calderon, a graduate of the Rabbi Pe'eri yeshiva in Haifa.
According to the Am Kadosh organization, which monitors the issue of yeshiva students' military draft eligibility, Calderon was transferred immediately after his arrest to the military detention facility at Jalamah.
During the night, Calderon managed to contact his family and update them on his condition. At the organization's direction, he also spoke with an attorney and received initial legal advice ahead of the expected proceedings. He is expected to be transferred during the day to Neve Tzedek Prison, also known as Prison 10, and brought before a military judge.
Am Kadosh described the arrest as unusual, saying that it had not recorded any similar cases in recent weeks involving draft evaders being arrested at family homes in urban areas.
The organization's previous known case took place about a month and a half ago in Beersheba, when Nitai Dahan was arrested at his home. Sources within the organization believe that the latest arrest, which was carried out late at night inside the family home, could reignite protests and demonstrations against the enforcement of the draft law on yeshiva students.
In a statement, Am Kadosh said: "Haredi Judaism is under severe persecution by government authorities, who throw dear boys into prison like convicted criminals, even though they have not committed any legal offense, but only because of their desire to preserve a life of Torah and mitzvot and devote themselves to Torah study. Haredi Judaism will stand like a solid wall against this harsh persecution and will defend the dear boys in every possible way."