High-profile case10/20/2026

143 Draft Evaders Released Without Waiting for the Military Police

Between July 1 and October 12, 2026, the Israel Police released 143 draft evaders because the Military Police did not arrive in time to take them into custody. This information is included in materials that the state intends to submit to the High Court of Justice as part of the petitions concerning the conscription of Haredim.

Key facts

•Period: July 1 to October 12, 2026
•Released because the Military Police did not arrive: 143 people
•Arrested during random checks: 14 people
•Waiting time at the scene for the Military Police: 30 minutes
•Court: the High Court of Justice of Israel
•The case number is not specified in the source

How the Detention Procedure Works

When the police encounter a draft evader at random, they detain the person at the scene for half an hour and wait for the Military Police. If IDF representatives do not arrive within the designated time, the detainee is released and given a summons to report to the conscription authorities.

What the Data Showed

Between July 1 and October 12, 2026, 14 draft evaders were arrested during random encounters with the police. In 143 additional cases, the detainees were released because Military Police representatives did not arrive in time. The Military Police stated during an interagency discussion that it had not been aware of these figures.

An Example in Jerusalem

Five yeshiva students who had been called up for conscription were arrested at the Ein Zeitim Junction in Jerusalem. Half an hour later, they were released because the Military Police had not arrived, and they were given orders to report to the conscription office.

The Legal Authorities’ Position

The Deputy Attorney General described the number of people released as high and noted that it may indicate a failure to implement the joint procedure. He emphasized that the police are responsible for public order during planned operations, while the IDF is responsible for assigning soldiers to carry out the arrests themselves. The police and the military must jointly comply with the court’s decision and the commitments made to the court, without postponing planned enforcement operations.

Joint Operation Postponed Again

The joint IDF and police operation, which was planned for October, was postponed for the second time. The police demanded that hundreds of additional soldiers be assigned, but IDF representatives believed that this was not feasible and did not accord with the division of authority. The source does not specify the High Court of Justice case number or the final ruling on the petitions.

What this means for you

The random detention of a draft evader by the civilian police does not always lead to immediate transfer to the military: under the procedure described, the transfer depends on the Military Police arriving within half an hour. Release in such circumstances does not mean the conscription process has ended—the person may be given an order to report to the conscription authorities. The materials also point to possible changes in the coordination of operations between the police and the IDF after the court considers the issue.

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