The IDF is preparing to file criminal desertion charges against approximately 64,000 chareidi bochurim who failed to report after receiving three consecutive call-up orders, according to data obtained by Yediot Acharonot through a freedom of information request filed by the Israel Hofsheet organization and the Movement for Freedom of Information.
The shift marks the end of the brief detention period, typically around two weeks, that has characterized enforcement until now, and the beginning of a new phase in which those charged will face prison sentences of three to six months.
Yediot reporter Shiloh Fried, who broke the story, discussed the findings on the Davar Rishon program hosted by Moshe Manes and Shuki Salomon. The interview revealed that the military justice system is now applying a legal threshold that triggers full criminal prosecution: 540 days from the date of the first call-up order without reporting.
Once that period has elapsed, the individual is classified as a "prosecutorial deserter" and becomes subject to extended incarceration rather than the short administrative detention used until now.
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
The call-up orders began going out in July 2024, following a High Court ruling that ended the blanket exemption for yeshiva students under the "Torah is his profession" category. Between 80,000 and 90,000 young men received orders. Of those, around 64,000 ignored the first, second, and third summons and are now formally classified as deserters.
Because more than a year has passed since the first wave of orders, the 540-day threshold has now been crossed for a significant portion of that group, and the military prosecution is beginning to act on it.
The IDF is also planning to shorten the threshold from 540 days to 365 days, one year, which would dramatically expand the pool of those subject to criminal charges and lengthy detention.
What Happens Next
Fried explained that the policy change is not theoretical. Prosecutors are moving forward with filings, and the chareidi public is bracing for an escalation in both enforcement and protest.
Legal aid organizations such as Kav Aleph are expanding their operations, and community leaders are expected to intensify their opposition to the draft in response to the new sentencing policy.
The discussion on Davar Rishon also touched on long-term solutions, with participants noting that the political and legal systems may eventually be forced to consider alternative models, such as a transition to a professional or volunteer army with significant financial incentives for those who serve, alongside comprehensive legislative reform.
