Israel detains 40 ultra-Orthodox men accused of draft dodging

At least 40 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men were arrested at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The individuals, who were passing through the border crossing, are accused of attempting to evade the country's mandatory military service. The mass-arrest was unusual in its scale and came amid a national debate over the ultra-Orthodox's exemption from military service.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 13% of Israel's population but are expected to represent nearly 25% by 2050, according to projections. The issue of military service equality has been a focal point of political discussions ahead of Israel's upcoming national elections on October 27. Most ultra-Orthodox men study full-time in religious seminaries instead of serving in the military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties, expressed opposition to the arrests, stating that it hindered efforts to enlist them without coercion.