Haredi draft dodgers should avoid airports, border crossings to evade arrest, yeshiva council warns

ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAMJULY 21, 2026 12:19Ultra-Orthodox (haredi) draft dodgers over the age of 18 and whose draft date has passed must avoid the airport and other border crossings to evade arrest, the Vaad Hayeshivos (Council of Yeshivas) warned on Tuesday.It added that yeshiva students who wish to travel abroad and have not shown up for their draft order must ensure they are allowed to fly and will not be arrested at the airport.Further, it emphasized that haredi yeshiva students under the age of 18 who wish to obtain an exemption from military service must go only to the IDF recruitment offices before their draft date has passed.The announcement comes ahead of Tisha B'Av and during the yeshiva semester break. It also follows several anti-draft protests on Monday.Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from the Gur (Hasidic dynasty) protest outside Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, July 20, 2026. (credit: Tal Gal/Flash90)Haredi protests erupt across IsraelAt Military Prison 10 in Beit Lid, hundreds of demonstrators gathered over the arrest of a draft dodger, N12 News reported.According to N12, the protesters belong to the Gur Hassidic sect, as well as the arrested draft dodger, with the Gur Rebbe in attendance at the demonstration.200 buses from across the country are expected to arrive in the area with thousands of additional demonstrators, the report cited the Gur community as saying.Later on Monday, haredi protesters blocked roads in both Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem, and demonstrated outside the Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara's house in Tel Aviv, chanting "Consult and then act."Ynet later reported that protesters had also attacked a passing IDF reservist walking his dog. Follow us on Google