Rights9/24/2026

IDF Has Almost Ceased Proactive Arrests of Draft Dodgers, Contrary to High Court Directive

According to ynet data, in recent months the IDF has almost completely stopped proactively arresting Haredi draft dodgers in their places of residence. This is despite a directive from the High Court of Justice to ensure equal enforcement of the conscription obligation.

Key facts

•About 70 detainees are being held in the military prison at Beit Lid
•Proactive arrests have almost ceased in recent months
•The main arrests are carried out at the border and at Ben Gurion Airport
•The High Court of Justice required equal enforcement of the conscription obligation
•The case number and date of the decision are not specified in the source

Where Draft Dodgers Are Now Being Arrested

About 70 Haredi draft dodgers are being held in the military prison at Beit Lid Camp, but their number is expected to decline. Almost all were arrested at Ben Gurion Airport or other border crossings—including while returning from Uman. Proactive arrests in Haredi residential areas have almost ceased in recent months.

Why the Military Reduced Its Activity

Military sources attribute the situation, among other things, to a shortage of police officers to accompany the arrests. A notice submitted to the High Court of Justice by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the military and law enforcement authorities stated that such operations are accompanied by widespread public disturbances and require significant resources. The IDF also seeks to reduce confrontations and therefore selects operations carefully.

The Requirement for Equal Enforcement of the Obligation

The High Court of Justice required the IDF to ensure equal enforcement of the conscription obligation. However, the case number, the date of the decision and its precise wording are not provided in the report. The source also does not report a new judicial decision or sanctions following the reduction in proactive arrests in practice.

Review of Psychiatric Opinions

The IDF identified an increase in applications by Haredi candidates for military service seeking exemptions on mental health grounds, with some of the opinions containing similar wording and being submitted through law firms. The military asked the Ministry of Health and the police to examine whether there are grounds for an investigation. According to the IDF Spokesperson's statement, the documents must be reviewed by a specialist and referred for further examination according to medical criteria.

What this means for you

For a person who has not reported for conscription, the absence of proactive operations at their place of residence does not mean that the search for them has ended or that the obligation has been canceled. The report indicates that the risk of arrest remains particularly high when entering and leaving Israel. An exemption on mental health grounds continues to depend on a professional review of the medical documents.

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