Ultra-Orthodox draft

Haredi demonstrator dragged by vehicle as mass anti-draft protests erupt across central Israel

The protest is taking place in Jerusalem and on Highway 4 • Demonstrators also arrived at an election campaign conference held by the haredi Sephardi Shas party in Modi'in Illit

Ultra-Orthodox protester holding a sign reading "Either Haredi or the army" during an anti-draft protest on Highway 4, October 8, 2026.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters demonstrate against an IDF recruitment conference for the Haredi community in Jerusalem, August 4, 2026.

Israel Police criticize Military Police over handling of Modi'in draft dodger arrest after riot

Illustrative: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road and clash with police during a protest against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with Israeli military draft orders, in Jerusalem, August 2, 2026.

IDF expected to resume draft evader operations as High Court deadline approaches

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the ICT’s Shabtai Shavit International Conference on Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University.

Bennett vows to pass 'Deri Law' barring draft evaders from Israel's security cabinet in next gov't


Six draft dodgers arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport after attempting to board plane illegally

According to the IAA, the six were caught in two separate incidents, with two of them caught by airport security in Terminal 1 and four caught in Terminal 3.

Passengers scramble at Ben-Gurion Airport after a staff strike halted Israeli air travel, August 20, 2026

WATCH: Anti-draft protesters try to block roads into Tel Hashomer base, prevent haredi enlistment

Ya'akov Dori Street in Kiryat Ono, from Levi Eshkol Street to Shlomo Hamelech, is blocked in both directions, Israel Police said, urging drivers to take alternate routes.

Ultra-Orthodox (haredi) protesters outside of Tel Hashomer IDF recruitment center in central Israel, August 31, 2026.

Hundreds of haredim arrive at Tel Hashomer to enlist in IDF as anti-draft protesters gather

“The young men who walked through those gates this morning show you can be fully committed to Torah study and still defend this country on the front line," said Lt.-Col. (res) Yossi Levi.

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) man at the Tel Hashomer IDF base, August 30, 2026.

Haredi protest erupts on Route 433 after police arrest draft dodger suspected of stealing car

According to the police, a 20-year-old had been caught driving a stolen car, after which it was determined that he was also a draft evader. 

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters block Route 433 in an attempt to stop the detention of a draft dodger, August 28, 2026.

A deleted IDF video exposed a deeper problem with draft enforcement - editorial

At a time of intense debate over haredi conscription, an IDF video appeared to send the wrong message. The army must investigate how it reached an official channel.

 Haredim at a recruiting office

Deleted IDF video instructed haredi draft evaders how to avoid Ben-Gurion checks

It is unclear whether the IDF has a mechanism to prevent someone from reporting for the summons, avoiding a departure restriction, traveling to Uman, and then failing to complete enlistment.

In a video published in August 2026, the AI-generated figure dubbed "Dudi the Explainer" tells haredi draft dodgers that they can avoid arrest at the airport en route to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

Haredi protesters block major Israeli highway after draft dodger's arrest

Ahead of the protest, police said Highway 4 will be blocked between the Aluf Sade Interchange in Ramat Gan and the Em Hamoshavot Interchange in Petah Tikva.  

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters block Highway 4 over detention of draft dodger, August 12, 2026.

Shas invokes IDF soldiers in election campaign ad, drawing Gadi Eisenkot's ire

The Shas campaign video features a family gathered for a Shabbat dinner before a son returns home from his army base and embraces his family members.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party attends a conference in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, July 9, 2026.

National-religious men overrepresented in IDF reserves as haredim stay absent, IDI analysis finds

National-Religious men were found to have increased in service substantially from the start of the war until 2025, while the participation of secular men decreased the most of any group.

 THE ZIONIST identity didn’t overcome the Jewish identity, nor did the opposite occur: An IDF soldier puts on tefillin.

Haredi protesters gather at Maccabim checkpoint over reported draft evader arrest - report

The soldiers at the scene told the crowd that the detainee was in fact an undocumented resident, not a draft evader, the report added.

HAREDI PROTESTERS block Highway 1, June 1, 2026; Illustrative.