Draft Evaders

Protesters and officers injured

Clashes and stun grenades in central Israel

Violent clashes erupt as haredi protesters block Route 4 over the arrest of a draft evader; police deploy stun grenades, and an officer is injured by a rock.

Haredi protestors block traffic after draft dodgers arrested

Following the arrests of two yeshiva students, the Jerusalem Faction plans mass protests as police prepare to close Highway 4 and other roads near Bnei Brak.

On Hatzibur Hachareidi:

Something unexpected is happening in haredi politics

This new party is picking up the gauntlet of staying haredi but accepting national responsibilities, and they are climbing in popularity but still need our support to make it a reality. GO OUT AND VOTE. Op-ed.

Draft evader's arrest sparks violent clashes at Elad yeshivas

Protests erupt in Elad after yeshiva student arrested for draft evasion; students accuse hurling stun grenades in yeshiva compounds, allegedly near uninvolved students.

Minister Zohar

'Treatment of haredim is like the Inquisition'

Following the detention of dozens of young Chabad Hasidim at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of draft evasion, the Culture Minister issued an unusually harsh condemnation of personal sanctions against Torah students.

Clashes and protests

Haredi draft dodger arrested in Kfar Saba

Dozens of haredi protesters gathered outside the police station in Kfar Saba to protest the arrest of a draft dodger. Demonstrations were also held on Highway 4.

40 of 42 arrested Chabad students agree to enlist in IDF

In dramatic reversal, 40 Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva students detained at Ben Gurion Airport for draft evasion agree to enlist in the IDF; two others remain in military prison.

Haredi MKs fume at Chabad students' arrest

United Torah Judaism, Shas MKs blast enforcement system, claim elections interference, after 42 Chabad yeshiva students are arrested.

Netanyahu forced to clarify: Draft evaders will go to jail

Likud rejects opposition accusations over Netanyahu's haredi draft remarks, insisting that those who refuse to enlist will face imprisonment.

64,000 haredi draft dodgers could face tougher penalties

The IDF is weighing a major crackdown on haredi men who ignored draft orders, including shortening the threshold for criminal prosecution and exposing more draft evaders to potential prison sentences of up to six months.

Due to draft evasion

Chabad students arriving in Israel face mass arrests

Military Police detain 25 Chabad yeshiva students returning from New York over unresolved draft status; Chabad rabbis work to secure their release.

'Not acceptable'

Netanyahu speaks out against draft dodger arrests

Netanyahu promises a new haredi conscription law, condemns arrests of yeshiva students, and rules out a plea deal; Eisenkot vows to oppose him.

Passport loophole:

Yeshiva student admits smuggling criminals abroad

Jerusalem yeshiva student reveals how he used his passport to smuggle people barred from leaving Israel through Ben Gurion Airport; is released to house arrest.

Government delays revoking benefits for haredi draft dodgers

Government stalls review of property tax and public transport discounts for haredi draft dodgers.

Netanyahu

'Let the death-before-enlistment people go to prison'

The Prime Minister presented a plan Sunday morning to enlist 23,000 haredi men over three and a half years and issued a stern warning to those who categorically oppose military service.

Incoming UTJ MK compares students' situation to Holocaust era

Elyakim Shtark compares yeshiva students' fears of arrest at airports to restrictions on crossing borders during the Holocaust.

Draft evaders barred from civil service jobs

Following the attorney general’s directives, the Civil Service Commission is reinstating enforcement of the ban on hiring draft-eligible individuals who have not regularized their status.

Yeshiva Committee issues unusual guidelines to students

Committee of Yeshivas in the Land of Israel issues unusual guidelines urging haredi yeshiva students to avoid encounters with military authorities, take precautions against legal complications.

'They are the draft evaders'

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slams media

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef criticizes the public attacks on yeshiva students and the use of the terms "draft evaders" during his weekly lecture in Jerusalem.

Disturbance and conflict:

Anti-draft protests spiral out of control

Anti-draft protests escalate into riots, vehicle attacks, and Highway 4 roadblocks, with protesters calling police 'Nazis.' Police Commissioner Danny Levy ordered decisive action and warned of arrests.

Haredi protesters thwart military arrests in two cities

Military Police forced to withdraw without making arrests in Dimona, Bat Yam, after dozens of haredi protesters physically blocked arrest operations targeting draft evaders.

Haredi draft-evader arrested in drug offender's apartment

Hebron yeshiva student from prominent haredi family arrested in Eilat after police find him in apartment linked to known drug offender.

Here's how draft-evaders slip through Ben Gurion border control

Police say 64 draft-evaders left Israel without passing through official passport control, usibg method that exposed serious security loophole at Ben Gurion Airport.

Arrest failed

Watch: Haredi extremists riot in Modi'in

Extremist haredim clash with police during attempted arrest of haredi draft-evader; officers evacuated.

'Enemy army'

Massive rally held in honor of haredi draft evaders

Nearly 100 draft evaders participate in a Jerusalem march following their release from military prison, with some carrying signs denouncing the IDF.

Rosh Hashanah in Uman?

Dozens arrested before leaving Israel

About 70 Breslov Hassidim are reportedly in military jails after arrests ahead of Rosh Hashanah, as legal aid is offered to those returning from Uman.

Unanimously:

Supreme Court strikes down law freezing haredi draft arrests

Nine-judge panel strikes down the amendment freezing enforcement proceedings against haredi men subject to military service. Eight rule it was also unconstitutional.

Haredi fund offers draft evaders NIS 1,000 a day in prison

Senior Lithuanian haredi rabbis back 'Prison 1,000' fund designed to reward draft evaders for each day spent behind bars.

Uman-bound haredi draft evaders stopped at airport, Taba border

Six haredi men caught trying to leave Israel at Ben Gurion Airport; dozens more headed for Uman stopped over active exit bans.

Can’t get to Uman?

Breslov hassidim prepare a Rosh Hashanah plan B

With draft dodgers facing obstacles to leaving Israel, Breslov organizers prepare Meron for thousands who may be unable to spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman.

Haredi man arrested days before his son’s circumcision

A Hasidic yeshiva student was arrested at a military base in Eilat and sentenced to ten days in military prison, just days before his son’s brit milah ceremony.

Police: Car was stolen

Protesters rush to IDF checkpoint over arrest

Haredi protesters block Route 443, believing a draft evader was being detained, but police say he was arrested in a stolen car before his status was discovered.

Manual for draft evaders?

Controversial IDF video quickly deleted

IDF removes an AI-generated video explaining how haredi draft evaders can resolve their status and travel abroad, admitting it violated spokesperson guidelines.

How draft evaders beat Ben Gurion Airport controls

Investigation reveals alleged loopholes allowing haredi draft evaders barred from leaving Israel to bypass border controls and board flights abroad.

Haredi extremists protest, Geha Interchange blocked

Extremists blocked the Geha Interchange, in the Petah Tikva and Bnei Brak area, as well as Jabotinsky Street, which separates the two cities, in protest against the arrest of a Haredi draft dodger.

Over draft status:

Tax Authority tightens rules for haredi yeshivas

New requirements expand a policy previously applied only to new institutions, potentially affecting haredi yeshivas across Israel.

Protests expected following yeshiva student's arrest

Arrest of alleged haredi draft evader ends five weeks of relative calm, with protesters expected to target Highway 4 near Bnei Brak.

Haredi draft evaders:

Yeshiva student arrested and handed over to Military Police

Escalation in draft battle: Yeshiva student arrested, clashes erupt at Maccabim checkpoint.

Thousands of Breslov hasidim may be blocked from Uman

As the Jewish New Year approaches, rabbis weigh controversial plan to allow haredi draft evaders barred from leaving Israel to make the pilgrimage.

AG demands action

80% of draft dodgers found to come from haredi community

A summary of the latest draft year finds that haredim account for about 80% of all draft evaders. The Attorney General is demanding expanded sanctions and the resumption of proactive arrests.

MK Simcha Rothman:

'Reserve duty burden must be shared by more people'

Religious Zionism MK says gradual haredi enlistment could ease burden on reservists and enable more soldiers to return to their families, calls for 61-seat right-wing majority that is loyal to the national camp.

Protesting draft dodger arrest

Haredi extremists block central Israel highway

Extreme subfaction of Jerusalem Faction block Route 4 near Bnei Brak after a yeshiva student was supposedly arrested and handed over to the military police after being summoned for interrogation.

Sanzer Rebbe: Most Israelis do not hate Torah learners

Sanzer Rebbe meets young haredi man recently freed from military prison, praises his steadfastness, insisting 'most Jews in Israel' do not hate Torah students.

Haredi allies turn on Netanyahu over Draft Law

Haredi factions disagree on response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements on law preventing arrest of haredi draft evaders, exposing internal rift.

Netanyahu:

Arrest Law will not be reinstated

PM Netanyahu said the law freezing draft evader arrests failed to boost haredi enlistment, pledging new legislation after the elections: 'Those who do not study Torah will enlist - or go to prison.'

Watch

Netzah Yehuda soldiers attacked in Jerusalem

Three soldiers from the IDF's Netzah Yehuda Battalion were assaulted after entering the area of a protest march in Jerusalem, where participants chanted slogans against military service.

'To Uman, not the military': Haredim protest at airport

Breslov hassidim protested at Ben Gurion Airport, demanding draft evaders be allowed to fly to Uman as fears of arrests before Rosh Hashanah grow.

No boarding: Israel cracks down on Uman-bound draft evaders

Israel blocks key loophole allowing haredi draft evaders under exit bans to board flights, new system expected to take effect ahead of Jewish New Year.

High Court freezes law barring arrest of draft dodgers

The High Court of Justice issued an interim order suspending the implementation of the law freezing the arrest of draft dodgers.

Shas Torah Sages

'It is forbidden to draft yeshiva students'

As the High Court hears a petition on the law on the arrests of draft dodgers, the Shas Council of Torah Scholars ruled that the recruitment of Torah students is prohibited according to Halakha.

Watch:

Haredi mob assaults IDF reservist

About 200 Gerrer hasidim demonstrated outside the home of AG Gali Baharav-Miara. An IDF reservist was injured after being assaulted by rioters.

The haredi counter-identity

There are Torah-true teachings that haredi ideology has ignored and subordinated to the preservation of haredi separateness. Opinion.

IDF Spokesman: Attacks on Chief of Staff harm the entire military

IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin defended the Chief of Staff's warning on haredi draft legislation, saying political attacks undermine the entire military.

During rush hour

Haredi protesters block Route 4

Haredi extremists are blocking Route 4 at the Geha and Givat Shmuel interchanges near Bnei Brak to protest the arrests of draft dodgers.

Deputy Minister Haskel leaves government

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel resigned after opposing legislation blocking arrests of haredi draft dodgers, citing harm to soldiers.

Above the law

Knesset passes law to halt arrests of haredi draft dodgers

The Knesset approved a bill preventing arrests of haredi draft dodgers, with coalition support and opposition petitions filed against the move.

Gur hasid arrested as concerns of mass protests grow

Gur hasid Moshe Reuven Verdiger arrested while awaiting official approval of military exemption request, plans for possible protests not yet known.

Report:

Haredi draft dodger denied tefillin for 3 days in jail

Detention facility staff refused to accept the pair of tefillin that a detainee's family brought for him after it was instructed to do so by the military.

Mistaken identity:

Police chase, cuff and injure haredi man

Plainclothes officers chase, cuff and injure a haredi man in Ashdod before discovering he was not the suspect they were searching for.

Watch:

Violent clashes between haredim and soldiers at IDF prison

Soldiers guarding the Military Prison 10 complex clash with haredi rioters who infiltrated the facility.