IDF expected to resume draft evader operations as High Court deadline approaches

The IDF expects to resume proactive enforcement operations against military draft evaders and deserters in October after such operations generally did not take place during the recent period, according to a Justice Ministry summary dated Tuesday.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Gil Limon said the absence of proactive enforcement for a significant period did not meet the country’s security needs, particularly after senior military commanders described expanding the regular army as a strategic necessity.

He said it was also inconsistent with the principle of equality, the state’s commitments to the High Court of Justice and a court ruling striking down a law that had prevented the arrest of yeshiva students. 

The four-page document summarizes a September 23 meeting led by Limon and attended by senior representatives of the IDF, Military Police, Israel Police and the Population and Immigration Authority.

IDF plans renewed October enforcement against haredi draft evaders

Military officials said proactive enforcement operations, including arrests, generally had not taken place during the recent period because authorities were concentrating their efforts at border crossings and making adjustments for the holiday season.

They said proactive enforcement was expected to resume in October, with Military Police and the relevant Israel Police stations coordinating operations in advance. The coordination is intended to allow the two forces to prepare jointly and provide a police response if exceptional incidents occur.

Overnight Monday, hundreds of haredi protesters surrounded Military Police officers attempting to arrest a draft evader in Modi’in and prevented them from taking him into custody. Israel Police officers were called to restore order and escort the soldiers from the building.

The IDF condemned what it described as an organized attempt to obstruct the arrest and endanger soldiers, saying enforcement would continue equally and within its authority.

During a concentrated enforcement operation from September 1 to 22, authorities arrested 212 draft evaders and deserters at Ben-Gurion Airport, the Allenby Bridge and the Begin crossing near Taba, the summary said. Military officials estimated that 163 of those arrested were haredi (ultra-Orthodox).

Authorities initiated proceedings against all 212, mostly through military disciplinary proceedings.

Of the 188 people arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport, 64 were caught only when they returned to Israel, raising concerns about gaps in enforcing restrictions intended to prevent them from leaving the country.

The Population and Immigration Authority said it quickly closed the gaps identified in border enforcement. Cases involving suspected illegal crossings were transferred to either Israel Police or the IDF, according to the document.

The summary also said prosecutors filed 360 indictments against draft evaders between January 1 and September 23. Military prosecutors estimated that 49 involved haredi draft evaders.

Only 16 indictments involving that group had been filed as of June, indicating an increase in the months that followed.

Military prosecutors said they were advancing measures to shorten the period of evasion required before criminal charges may be filed from 18 months to one year. They also plan to prosecute people who desert during the induction process after 30 days.

Those changes have not taken effect yet. Military prosecutors said they had completed their review of arguments raised by the Military Public Defender’s Office and expected to respond during October, after which the measures would be implemented.

The dispute follows a series of Supreme Court rulings requiring the state to enforce the military draft equally.

In June 2024, the court ruled that the government had no legal authority to refrain from drafting yeshiva students after the legal framework allowing their exemptions expired, and that the state must enforce the existing draft law.

In November 2025, a five-justice panel ordered the government to formulate an effective enforcement policy within 45 days, including significant criminal-law enforcement measures and broad complementary economic and civil steps.

Last month, the High Court unanimously struck down a law shielding qualifying haredi yeshiva students from arrest, investigation and other enforcement proceedings over draft evasion.

The state must submit its next update to the court by October 15. Limon requested that the relevant agencies provide updated arrest, indictment, disciplinary and enlistment figures by October 12.

The document also said a separate meeting would examine the gaps discovered in border controls and enforcement at Ben-Gurion Airport and the measures taken in response.