IDF launches arrest operation for Haredi draft dodgers  

The IDF has launched a nationwide operation targeting individuals who failed to report for their mandatory draft notices, with military police already detaining dozens of draft dodgers, the army confirmed on Tuesday.

The army emphasized that the initiative goes beyond simple enforcement; it aims to send a clear message that evading the draft will have significant consequences. "A recruit who fails to show up for induction as instructed is liable to face both disciplinary and criminal penalties," the IDF stated.

The operation has sparked fierce backlash from the ultra-Orthodox political parties, with growing threats to leave the coalition government. On Tuesday morning, these parties issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Netanyahu, demanding immediate clarification: they will withdraw from the government if the IDF proceeds with actual arrests.

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri voiced the party’s position in an interview just before Passover, issuing a stark warning to the government. "The moment, God forbid, even one yeshiva student is arrested, whether at a yeshiva or in their home, Shas will no longer be able to stay in this government," Deri declared. He dismissed the involvement of legal bodies like the Supreme Court or Attorney General, asserting that the issue is a matter of principle, not politics.