High Court judges say state’s enforcement efforts against Haredi draft dodgers unsatisfactory

Judges on the High Court panel hearing petitions demanding the enforcement of military conscription for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students express dissatisfaction with the state’s enforcement efforts.

The state’s lawyer says that of 24,000 young Haredi men issued preliminary enlistment orders in the 2024 enlistment year, 5,700 have been declared to be draft evaders.

Judge Yael Wilner asks whether all 5,700 are in military detention, and questions the attorney’s response that there is not enough space in military prisons for so many people.

“The answer that there is not enough space is very problematic,” retorts Wilner. “Space can be made.”

Judge Daphne Barak Erez asks how many of the draft evaders have been brought to military trial, and the judges scold the state’s representative when she says she doesn’t have the numbers to hand.

“The problem with all the great things you’re saying about the things you’ve been doing is that there are no results, there are not enough soldiers,” says Barak Erez.

“The army needs these people now — yesterday,” adds Judge Noam Sohlberg.