64,000 Bochurim Listed as Draft Evaders: IDF Prepares Months-Long Jail Terms 64,000 בחורים גערעכנט אלס "עריקים": מיליטער גרייט זיך צו חדשים'דיגע תפיסה

What came out

On Monday a number came out that sent a shock through the yeshiva world. About 64,000 Chareidi bochurim are now classified by the IDF as draft evaders. In other words, they didn't show up when they were called ^[1].

The numbers were revealed by Shilo Fried, a Yediot Achronot journalist, in an interview on "Davar Rishon." That's the Kikar HaShabbat program hosted by Moshe Mans and Shuki Salomon ^[1]. Fried says the data came from the army through a Freedom of Information request filed by two groups, Israel Hofsheet and the Movement for Freedom of Information ^[1].

From two weeks to half a year

Since July 2024, about 80,000 to 90,000 bochurim have received draft notices. All of them used to have exemptions or deferments under the Toraso Umanuso arrangement. The notices started after the Supreme Court ordered the army to begin drafting Chareidi men ^[1]. About 64,000 of them didn't show up, even after the first, second and third summons ^[1].

Up to now, a bochur who got arrested usually sat in military detention for about two weeks ^[1]. That could change in a big way. Under the current rules, someone who hasn't reported 540 days after his first summons can be classified as a prosecutable evader. That means criminal charges ^[1]. According to Fried, we're talking about three to six months behind bars ^[1][3].

So many notices went out starting in July 2024 that more and more bochurim are getting close to the 540-day mark, or have already passed it ^[1]. The army is also considering cutting that threshold to just 365 days. That would sharply raise the number of young men facing prosecution ^[1].

A different number at ynet

ynet has a report with a different figure. According to the military numbers cited there, there are 76,809 draft dodgers but only 437 arrests. ynet calls it a widening enforcement gap ^[2].

What's expected next

In the Chareidi world, opposition to forcing yeshiva bochurim into the army is widespread ^[1]. If thousands of bochurim end up facing criminal cases and months in jail, protests are expected to grow. More bochurim are also expected to turn for legal help to organizations that assist draft detainees, such as Kav Aleph ^[1].