A-G calls for renewed arrests of haredi draft dodgers, says enforcement gap hurts IDF enlistment

Israel's Attorney-General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has urged for a stronger approach to enforcing military conscription, advocating for renewed arrests and broader economic sanctions against draft evaders. She expressed concern that lax enforcement, particularly concerning ultra-Orthodox men, undermines the draft process, deprives the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of potential recruits, and leads to unequal treatment across different population segments. According to a summary of a recent meeting, military officials acknowledged that the enforcement gap directly impacts effective recruitment and results in disproportionate enforcement against other groups. The findings highlighted that criminal proceedings typically commence after a draft evader is detained or reports to a military facility, meaning fewer arrests directly correlate to fewer prosecutions. Despite these enforcement challenges, the review indicated a substantial rise in haredi enlistment during the 2025 draft year. A total of 4,298 haredi men enlisted, an increase of approximately 53% from the previous year. Professional officials attributed this growth to several factors, including the issuance of draft orders to a wider haredi population, more robust personal economic enforcement, criminal enforcement measures like arrests, and the development of military tracks specifically adapted for haredi recruits. This uptick in enlistment suggests that enforcement, coupled with suitable service opportunities, has proven effective. However, this conclusion contrasts with the government's recent stance, which has argued against arrests. In July, the Knesset passed a temporary law suspending proceedings against qualifying haredi yeshiva students who fail to report for service. The government argued to the High Court that Israel needs "haredi recruits, not haredi detainees," fearing that arrests could reverse enlistment gains and exacerbate tensions with the haredi community. The High Court has since placed a hold on this law.

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haredi recruits, not haredi detainees