Israel launches raids against Orthodox Jewish draft dodgers

The IDF military police conducted raids to search for citizens who evade military service. The target is a stratum of ultra-Orthodox Jewish citizens.

This is reported by the Israeli publication ‘Walla!’.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military police launched an operation to identify and detain persons evading conscription. According to army officials, this is a targeted operation that may expand. It is known about 36 detained citizens.

An IDF spokesman confirmed that raids to detain draft dodgers are underway. At the same time, some army sources criticize these actions as a “media show” because the army does not have enough places in detention centers or prisons.

Previously, such raids were conducted in November 2024 and March 2025. Each operation takes place in two stages: first, military police officers contact the person to resolve the problem voluntarily, and if they refuse, they physically arrest the person. Subsequently, the detainee may face disciplinary or criminal proceedings, depending on the duration of the evasion.

The involvement of the military police is commonplace in Israel, as most citizens of conscription age are already subordinated to the Ministry of Defense.

“According to the conscription law, teenagers of both sexes in Israel from the age of 16 receive the status of MALSHAB, or candidate for the Security Forces (cf. Defense Forces), along with a passport. Accordingly, they are already in the system and fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense and can be detained by the Military Police. When you reach the age of 18, you are sent a letter with a draft notice, which you have to report to,” says Yigal Levin, a military observer and reserve officer in the IDF.

In his opinion, the IDF leadership is pursuing political motives, as the structure has no problems mobilizing recruits. For example, according to a report for December last year, the army recruited an average of 106-109% of the target plan for male recruits and about 134-157% of female recruits.

“In Israel, raids against draft dodgers are rare, as the phenomenon itself is not widespread. On the contrary, the country is currently experiencing a certain overcrowding of conscripts. I believe that this action has more of a political aspect and is aimed specifically at the orthodox population, whose mandatory conscription was resumed only in 2024. The army needs to show that all citizens have an equal duty, but it is unlikely that this will go beyond demonstration raids,” notes Yigal Levin.

Walla! reported that ultra-Orthodox parties have already expressed their dissatisfaction, saying that if at least one ultra-Orthodox shunner is detained, they will leave the government.

“As soon as one is arrested, Netanyahu will receive letters of resignation from the coalition, and the government will begin to fall apart,” party representatives said.

Last week, the IDF Chief of Staff ordered the preparation of a detailed plan to combat draft evasion. Legal advisor to the government Gali Bagarav-Mehara said that it is planned to send about 5,000 more summonses to students of religious yeshivas to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision.