After raucous Haredi protests against IDF enlistment, right-wing opposition party demands AG prosecute draft evaders

Ultra-Orthodox crowds held large demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Monday outside several recruitment offices, protesting against attempts to enlist Haredi men, with some verbally attacking and shoving ultra-Orthodox men choosing to enlist. 

"Don't commit suicide, save yourself," one of the Haredi demonstrators called out to the ultra-Orthodox who chose to enlist.

"Don't burn your soul forever. There's nothing you can do in the army, we saw how they fell like flies on October 7. If the Torah stops, the Torah will be erased. You're not worth anything.” 

In addition, dozens of Haredi protesters blocked streets near the Tel Hashomer military base, where many new recruits are enlisted, in an attempt to prevent ultra-Orthodox conscripts from being drafted. 

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Knesset Member Oded Forer, of the right-wing opposition party Yisrael Beytenu, sent a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding that she initiate criminal proceedings against the protesters. 

In the letter, Forer called on the attorney general to “take action to bring to justice the rioters who are inciting evasion of IDF service.” 

He noted that Israeli law levies harsh penalties against those evading conscription, including 5 years’ imprisonment, which rises to 15 years during wartime. Forer said the protests “directly and substantially harms the security of the state, the strength of Israeli society, and the fundamental value of the equality of the burden.” 

Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Lieberman echoed Forer’s comments in a post to social media, writing, “The attacks against Haredim who do enlist are crossing a red line.” 

He also noted the harsh punishment for draft dodgers, writing, “Incitement to desert during wartime = up to 15 years in prison.” 

Attacking the coalition government, which contains ultra-Orthodox parties attempting to enshrine broad exemptions for Haredi men into law, he said, “I demand that law enforcement authorities act decisively against those involved and call on the October 7th government to stop standing behind the evaders and attackers.” 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionism party, also condemned the demonstrators, calling on the authorities to arrest them and “bring them to justice.” 

“In these very days, when the entire nation of Israel is mobilized for its security, I want to send great encouragement to the ultra-Orthodox, Torah-loving, God-fearing recruits who choose to shoulder the sacred responsibility of defending the people and the land,” Smotrich posted to 𝕏.

“I strongly condemn their attack by a handful of violent [men] and savages. Law enforcement authorities must seize the rioters and bring them to justice.” 

Last week, Smotrich clashed with United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni over the issue of enlistment, calling on the Haredi to stop opposing enlistment. 

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, from the Shas ultra-Orthodox party, said of the demonstrations, “I strongly condemn the thugs who acted violently against the ultra-Orthodox recruits to the Israel Defense Forces today. These rascals are not Bnei Torah (sons of the Torah) and do not represent its values.” 

National Unity head Benny Gantz condemned the demonstrators but also attacked the government, writing on social media, “In a reality in which the government encourages evasion, it is no wonder that we have reached a situation where extremists attack those who choose to serve.” 

As the Gaza War drags on, the IDF is facing a shortage of active duty soldiers and has said it will need to draft at least 12,000 new soldiers, with around 7,000 being combat troops.

There are currently around 70,000 ultra-Orthodox men eligible for the draft who have not enlisted. While the IDF sent out 10,000 conscription notices to ultra-Orthodox men, it says that only 2% have responded. 

Meanwhile, the ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition government are trying to pass a bill that would exempt the majority of Haredi men from military service.