From the Liveblog of
Sunday, July 6, 2025
IDF to introduce new measures against draft dodgers and deserters
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
After the IDF announces that it plans to step up enforcement measures against draft evaders and deserters across all demographics, Hebrew press reports that the new measures will involve shortening the process of being declared a draft dodger and the establishment of Military Police checkpoints.
The IDF itself declines to specify what the measures will look like.
According to the reports, the lengthy process of declaring somebody an evader will be considerably shortened, so that a candidate for service who declines to show up when summoned will potentially be declared a draft dodger within as little as two months.
The IDF Military Police will also set up checkpoints at which they will be authorized to arrest draft dodgers in the West Bank and inside Israel proper, according to Behadrei Haredim correspondent Avraham Friend.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid welcomes the IDF’s move, stating that it is “the people’s army, not a half-people’s army.”
The IDF declines to comment beyond its initial statement announcing the increased enforcement.
Stav Levaton contributed to this report.
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