IDF Must Issue Draft Orders To All Eligible Men By July, AG Says

Israeli Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara made clear that the Israel Defense Forces must begin sending conscription orders to all eligible men — including those from the chareidi population — during the next draft cycle starting in July.

Her remarks came during a high-level government meeting, the content of which was made public on Tuesday.

Currently, there are approximately 80,000 chareidi men of military age. Of those, 24,000 have received draft notifications since last summer, but fewer than 3,000 have reported for duty.

Baharav-Miara underscored the critical need to boost the IDF’s ranks, aligning with requests from defense officials. She also cited the High Court of Justice’s conditional order as a warning sign, highlighting that the government must explain its failure to issue widespread draft notices.

The court’s directive, released last month, includes several requirements — chief among them an explanation for why there have been no penalties imposed on draft evaders. The state must also justify why it has not implemented the High Court’s June 2023 decision, which barred blanket military exemptions for chareidim. The deadline for the government to respond is June 24.

At the recent meeting, Baharav-Miara revealed that two months ago she urged Defense Minister Yisroel Katz to develop enforcement mechanisms and to consider cutting financial incentives for those avoiding service. As of now, Katz has not responded.

In their ruling last June, the justices harshly rebuked the government, stating that ignoring the draft law’s expiration — and continuing to offer exemptions — amounted to a violation of the law.

Amid rising tensions, the IDF announced on Tuesday that it has launched a renewed effort to apprehend those evading the draft, including chareidim. The last large-scale effort of this kind took place in November and again in March.

Baharav-Miara said the matter has become even more urgent because of the “extremely low turnout numbers of chareidi draftees, along with the deepening inequality that places so much more strain on those who do serve, both in their mandatory service and in reserves.”

For the upcoming July draft season, the plan is to summon between 2,500 and 7,000 chareidi men. According to the attorney-general, 18,900 notices have already been sent to eligible men, with 8,900 issued between March and June. She added that these notices were sent regardless of whether the recipients are enrolled in yeshivos or are employed. The IDF says another 5,100 notices will be sent out by July.

The projected total of about 60,000 conscription orders by the end of the upcoming draft year does not distinguish between full-time Torah learners and those in the workforce.

{Matzav.com Israel}