Israel detains 40 ultra-Orthodox men accused of draft dodging
Summary
Israel arrested at least 40 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men at Ben Gurion Airport for trying to avoid mandatory military service. The arrests come after Israel's Supreme Court ruled the ultra-Orthodox must start serving in the military, ending their long-standing exemption.Key Facts
- At least 40 ultra-Orthodox men were arrested on suspicion of draft evasion at Ben Gurion Airport.
- Israel's military requires these men to serve by law, after a Supreme Court decision in 2024.
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been exempt from military service but now face compulsory drafting.
- The issue has become urgent after attacks by Hamas on Israel and political debates before elections on October 27.
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 13% of Israel’s population but are expected to be around 25% by 2050.
- Most ultra-Orthodox men study full-time in religious schools instead of serving in the military.
- Ultra-Orthodox political leaders want a law that allows some exemption while setting a quota for who must serve.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on ultra-Orthodox parties for support and opposes the arrests as harmful to voluntary enlistment efforts.
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