Some 50 Hassidim detained at Ben-Gurion Airport upon arrival from New York for draft evasion
The IDF, which had advance notice of their arrival, confiscated the passports of several youths and detained a large number of deserters.
Approximately 50 Chabad Hassidic individuals were apprehended at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning upon their arrival from New York, suspected of draft evasion. The Hassidim had recently returned from a year of study at the 770 World Headquarters in New York. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had been forewarned of their arrival and subsequently seized several young men's passports, leading to the detention of a significant number of deserters.
While dozens of the detained have since been released, others have been transferred to military custody. Those remaining in custody were transported to the IDF recruitment center in Tel Hashomer for trial. The detainees have been offered the opportunity to enlist, with the option of a suspended sentence, or face prosecution and potential imprisonment in military prison.
The IDF has anticipated potential protests from haredi groups surrounding the Tel Hashomer base and Kfar Yona prison, and has alerted the Israel Police to prepare for possible mass demonstrations. Conflict between IDF soldiers and haredim has occurred multiple times this year during protests at military prisons. Recently, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox children from Breslov schools were brought to protest at the site of the military prison 10 following the arrest of draft evaders at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
