Forty out of forty-two Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva students arrested Tuesday morning at Ben Gurion Airport have agreed to enlist in the IDF, according to military updates. The arrests occurred as dozens of students returned to Israel following a year of study at the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in New York. Military Police officers detained the youths for failing to regularize their status with military authorities.
Military police intercept returning students at airport
The incident began Tuesday morning when Military Police intercepted the returning students at Ben Gurion Airport. According to the IDF, the students faced disciplinary proceedings for evading compulsory military service. In recent months, the airport has emerged as a focal point for enforcement against young haredi men returning from abroad without regularized military status. Authorities confirmed that draft notices had been issued prior to the students’ departure.
Did You Know? For years, the IDF maintained an agreement with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement allowing students to study abroad in New York before returning to Israel to serve in military service tracks adapted to their religious lifestyle after marriage. That arrangement recently came under the spotlight and was canceled, creating draft-evasion issues for the movement’s students.
Thirteen students sent to military prison before signing declarations
Of the 42 students initially detained and transported to the Tel Hashomer recruitment center, 27 expressed willingness to enlist earlier Tuesday, received suspended sentences, and were released after being found fit for military service. Thirteen additional students initially refused to cooperate and were sent to military prison before signing declarations expressing their willingness to enlist. Those 13 subsequently received suspended sentences and were released, bringing the total number of agreeing students to 40. Two other students, who had evaded military service for more than 540 days, were sent directly to military prison without release.
Expert Insight: The rapid shift from prison transfers to signed enlistment declarations highlights the pressure faced by returning students under enforcement of Israel’s military service law at border crossings.
Haredi community representatives criticize airport arrests
According to the military’s update, the 40 students who agreed to serve are expected to begin formal enlistment procedures in the near future. They will be assigned to various military service tracks designated for the haredi community. Meanwhile, the arrests have triggered protests and public criticism from representatives of the haredi community. Haredi political figures and commentators have decried the enforcement actions, arguing that detaining yeshiva students at the airport damages integration efforts and fails to encourage voluntary recruitment.
Forty detained students agree to enlist after military police detention
Why were the Chabad students detained at Ben Gurion Airport?
Military Police officers detained 42 yeshiva students upon their return from New York for failing to regularize their status with military authorities, following the cancellation of a long-standing study-abroad service agreement.
How many detained students ultimately agreed to enlist in the IDF?
Out of 42 students who faced disciplinary proceedings, 40 signed declarations expressing their willingness to enlist, received suspended sentences, and were released. Two other students with extended evasion periods exceeding 540 days remained in military prison.
What will happen to the students who agreed to military service?
The military stated that the 40 students are expected to begin formal enlistment procedures in the near future and will be assigned to military service tracks designated for the haredi community.