Israel detains 40 ultra-Orthodox Jews at Ben Gurion Airport over draft evasion

Israeli authorities detained 40 ultra-Orthodox Jews from the Haredi community at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of attempting to evade mandatory military service, reflecting the intensifying debate in Israel over conscription of this group.

An Israeli army statement confirmed that those detained are required to serve in the military, adding that they are subject to legal procedures and will be prosecuted according to the law.

The arrests come amid escalating disputes over requiring Haredim to enlist like other Jewish citizens in Israel, after years in which many received exemptions linked to religious studies, according to CBS.

Israel’s Supreme Court recently ordered the military to begin drafting Haredim, as there is currently no law granting them blanket exemption from service, posing increasing political and legal challenges for the government.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the arrest of Haredi community members for draft evasion, warning that coercion could backfire and undermine recruitment efforts.

The issue of Haredi conscription remains one of Israel’s most contentious, with ongoing divisions between those calling for equal military obligations and those defending continued religious exemptions.