The judges of the High Court of Justice sharply criticized the government in a hearing Wednesday over its failure to take effective enforcement measures against ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, saying its efforts so far have fallen short of the mark.

Several of the judges demanded to know why it was taking so long for enforcement measures to be implemented, with court deputy president Noam Sohlberg stating that the need for “stronger enforcement measures” against ultra-Orthodox draft evaders was “growing ever clearer.”

The tough words the judges had for the state and its representatives may indicate a willingness to accede to petitioners’ requests to order the government to increase enforcement.

Last week, the attorney general also told the government its enforcement measures were insufficient, and pointed out that it was entirely within the power of the government to impose heightened personal sanctions against draft dodgers, as defense officials have said is necessary.

Should the court agree to issue interim orders against the government, it may recommend such measures.

Wednesday’s hearing dealt with petitions demanding that the government enforce the law for national conscription, and draft tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who are eligible for military service but have failed to enlist.

Proceedings were briefly interrupted twice when several ultra-Orthodox men began shouting in the courtroom “We’d rather die than enlist,” a common Haredi anti-enlistment refrain, before being ejected from the courtroom by court security guards.

In June 2023, the clauses in the Law for Security Service allowing for blanket military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students expired, and a year later the High Court........

© The Times of Israel