Ultra-Orthodox Israelis comprise over 80 percent of all draft evaders in the country, the Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday, despite an increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox draftees enlisting in the IDF.

The office called for the state to strengthen its enforcement of draft orders, including by arresting draft evaders.

In a statement summarizing a discussion on the issue held by military, legal and police officials, the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said “the phenomenon of draft evasion is still widespread” even though increased enforcement, sanctions and the establishment of special service tracks geared toward Haredim have boosted conscription.

According to data released by Baharav-Miara’s office, around 50,000 of the 60,000 people that were declared by the IDF to be draft evaders last year were members of the ultra-Orthodox community, just over 83% of the total figure, despite Haredim comprising only around 14% of the population.

Despite the vast majority of those evading conscription being members of the community, the Attorney General’s Office noted that only 34 of the 348 indictments filed for draft dodging so far this year were against Haredim — just under 10% of the total.

“In order to continue reducing the phenomenon of draft evasion and respond to the urgent security need to grow the army, it is necessary to expand........

© The Times of Israel