An attempt by the Military Police to execute a proactive arrest of a military deserter in Modiin ended in failure, after a crowd of ultra-Orthodox individuals rioted in the building where the deserter resided, forcing the forces to withdraw. The riots, which took place overnight, were documented on social media, showing protesters infiltrating the residential apartment and clashing with officers. Upon the forces' departure without completing the mission, the deserter was seen heading to the street, where he was greeted with a 'hero’s welcome' on the roof of a car.
According to reports, the mob was summoned to the site by a center known as 'Black Paint,' operated by the Jerusalem Faction, aimed at assisting draft evaders in avoiding arrest. This activity includes distributing a phone number in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, through which protesters are summoned to arrest sites to prevent execution. The Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit stated that large forces operated at the scene to extract the soldiers and restore public order.
Conversely, the 'Black Paint' center boasted that thanks to public support, the police left the deserter's home. This incident joins a series of tensions regarding the enforcement of mandatory conscription. Despite a High Court ruling mandating equitable enforcement, the IDF claims that proactive arrests are limited due to a lack of cooperation from the police, without whom operations cannot be conducted in civilian spaces. In contrast, the Israel Police rejects these allegations, emphasizing that this is a mission under the sole responsibility of the Military Police.
At this time, the majority of those arrested for draft evasion are ultra-Orthodox individuals detained at Ben Gurion Airport or border crossings while returning from abroad, rather than through proactive enforcement activities within cities. Public criticism of the case has intensified, with public figures across the political spectrum criticizing the inability to enforce the law, comparing the nature of the activity in some cases to combat zones and calling to end the existence of a 'state within a state.
' As part of the response to enforcement, thousands of ultra-Orthodox recently held street marches against the army, using harsh expressions and publicly demonstrating support for deserters, including the distribution of financial aid to draft evaders.