Israeli Politics · 02 September, 2026 · 2 min read
Six Draft Dodgers Arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport Trying to Fly to Uman
Six Israeli draft evaders arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport attempting to leave Israel. Two stopped at Terminal 1, four at Terminal 3.
3 outlets told this the same way.
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2 of 3 outlets skipped it: IDF deleted a video advising draft evaders how to avoid arrest.
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Arrests at Ben-Gurion
Six draft dodgers were arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday after attempting to board a plane illegally to flee the country, according to the Israel Airports Authority (IAA). The IAA said two were caught in Terminal 1 and four were caught in Terminal 3, and that an ensuing investigation by the Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority found the six had IDF draft orders against them that prevented them from leaving Israel.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the arrests followed an earlier IDF social media video advising haredi draft evaders how to avoid arrest at Ben-Gurion Airport, which was later deleted after Army Radio reported it and asked the IDF about it. The video had been published on the military's official Instagram channel for haredi service members, hardim.idf, ahead of an expected surge of thousands of Israelis traveling to Uman, Ukraine, for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage.
Breslov pilgrimage pressure
Ynetnews said the six Israeli draft evaders were caught Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport while attempting to leave the country, with two stopped at Terminal 1 and four others at Terminal 3. Ynetnews reported that all six were transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority, where checks showed they were subject to military draft orders barring them from leaving Israel.
The arrests came amid a broader effort by Breslov Hasidim who have not reported for military service to travel to Uman, Ukraine, for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Ynetnews added that dozens of Breslov followers subject to draft obligations have been detained at Ben Gurion Airport over the past two weeks after authorities determined they had failed to report in response to military summonses, and that several others were also detained at the Taba border crossing while attempting to travel through Egypt to Europe and continue from there to Uman.
Rabbis urge compliance
Ynetnews said senior Breslov rabbis last week circulated a recording urging draft evaders not to try their luck at Ben Gurion Airport and not to begin the IDF induction process solely in order to secure permission to travel to Uman. The outlet reported that the recording, first reported by ynet, followed growing concern among Breslov leaders over followers who had failed to report to military induction centers but later indicated to the IDF that they were prepared to enlist or begin the induction process.
Ynetnews described the aim as having their travel restrictions lifted so they could make the pilgrimage to Uman around Rosh Hashanah. Across the coverage, the Jerusalem Post tied the airport crackdown to the expected surge of thousands of Israelis traveling to Uman, Ukraine, for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage, while noting the IDF video about avoiding arrest at Ben-Gurion Airport was deleted after Army Radio reported it.