The IDF is opening a last-chance opportunity for anyone who hasn’t advanced with their draft notice, which would allow them to enlist in an accelerated process. The last-ditch effort comes at the heels of arrests made by the military against several ultra-Orthodox (haredi) draft dodgers over the past week. Currently, there are some 14,600 deserters.
Dialogue around the issue of an equal draft and the full integration of eligible haredi men into service has intensified at a steady rate since the Israel-Hamas War began nearly two years ago. Anyone who answers the call now will be able to enlist and settle their affairs without arrest or jail time and will be immediately taken to basic training.
This offer, open to anyone who hasn’t yet enlisted, will be available until Thursday. Those interested can sign up by phone or online and will be officially entered into military service within a number of weeks. This will allow thousands to avoid criminalization and various forms of sanctions, like arrest or an order prohibiting departure from the country.
IDF to send thousands of personal notices to individual draft dodgers
The IDF will personally reach out to the relevant thousands, with an emphasis on those between the ages of 18 and 28.
The government has teetered on the failure to pass a draft law that would allow eligible haredi youth to avoid enlisting, with haredi leaders citing an unpardonable destruction to the community’s way of life. The military suffers from a growing manpower drain as the war against Israel’s various fronts continues. Since October 7, 2023, about 12,000 soldiers have either been wounded or killed in battle.