Israeli military police detained at least 40 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning, arresting them on suspicion of attempting to evade the nation’s mandatory military service. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the operation, stating that the individuals passed through the border crossing while subject to compulsory conscription and would now face trial under the law.
The scale of the mass arrest by military police was considered unusual and unfolded amid a fierce national reckoning over whether ultra-Orthodox citizens should share the military burden alongside the rest of the country’s Jewish population. Historically, ultra-Orthodox Jews have been granted exemptions from military service, with most men choosing instead to study full-time in religious seminaries.
However, the legal landscape shifted significantly in 2024 when Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox citizens in the absence of any formal legislation legalizing their exemption. The issue has taken on heightened urgency since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent multi-front war, which placed unprecedented demands on the armed forces.
Citizens who serve in the military, particularly reservists, have increasingly voiced frustration over shouldering an uneven share of the state’s security responsibilities. Ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, Jews currently account for approximately 13 percent of Israel’s population. Projections from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that this demographic is growing faster than any other and is expected to approach 25 percent of the total population by 2050.
The conscription dispute has major political ramifications. Ultra-Orthodox political leaders have pressed for legislation to formalize a broad exemption for their community while carving out specific percentages of ultra-Orthodox men and women subject to compulsory service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has depended heavily on the political backing of ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain his governing coalition since the 2022 national elections, forcing him to navigate a delicate balance between their demands and public calls for equal service.
Weighing in on the morning’s enforcement action, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in an interview with the ultra-Orthodox radio station Kol Barama that he opposed the arrests of draft evaders. He argued that such enforcement actions ultimately undermined ongoing efforts to enlist community members through persuasion rather than coercion.
