Criminal10/6/2026

After 12 Days in Military Prison, Draft Refuser Received 12,000 Shekels

A young Haredi man named Avraham Engel received 12,000 shekels after his release from military prison—1,000 shekels for each day of imprisonment. The payment was arranged by a fund that supports Haredi citizens who do not report for duty after receiving Israel Defense Forces call-up orders.

Key facts

•Payment recipient: Avraham Engel
•Length of imprisonment: 12 days
•Payment amount: 12,000 shekels
•Payment rate: 1,000 shekels per day
•Payment organizer: the “Kele Elef” fund
•The case number and exact date were not specified in the source

Why Engel Was Imprisoned

According to a Ynet report, Avraham Engel refused to enlist on religious grounds and did not report for duty in response to any of the orders sent to him by the military. About a month and a half before the report was published, he was arrested by the Military Police and subsequently spent 12 days in military prison. The source does not report any legal proceeding, case number, or specific statutory provision under which he was sentenced to imprisonment.

Who Paid the Money

After his release, Engel was invited to a celebratory event at which rabbis personally presented him with a check for 12,000 shekels. The payment was provided by the “Kele Elef” fund, which was established to support Haredim who evade the draft. According to the organizers, participants in the fund regularly deposit small sums, and anyone arrested is paid 1,000 shekels for each day spent in military prison.

Why the Fund Was Established

The organizers describe the initiative as a form of “insurance” for those who do not report for enlistment. Their stated goal is to reduce the deterrent effect of arrest and compensate the prisoner for the time spent in military prison. The report did not state whether state authorities had issued a legal opinion on the fund’s activities or on the payment itself.

The Related Unrest in Modi’in

The ceremony was held several hours before an attempt by the Military Police to arrest another draft evader in Modi’in. Hundreds of extremist Haredim entered a residential building, clashed with police officers, and surrounded a Military Police soldier. The soldiers eventually left the scene, and the wanted man was not arrested; according to Ynet, the police opened an internal review of the forces’ actions at the scene.

What this means for you

A private monetary payment after release does not, in itself, cancel military orders or alter a person’s status before the military authorities. The article also does not report a new judicial decision or a change in legislation: this is a private initiative intended to provide financial support to draft evaders who were arrested.

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