Breaking

Approximately 50 young Chabad followers returning from a year of study in New York were detained at Ben Gurion Airport after being identified as draft evaders, according to reports from Walla and Israel Hayom. The Israeli military had advance warning of their arrival and processed several of them for continued military handling, while dozens were released.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the detention, calling it “unacceptable” and suggesting it represented a deliberate attempt to harm the military recruitment process. However, Netanyahu also stated: “I respect the Torah world, but whoever doesn’t study should go enlist.”

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the military draft enforcement and the ultra-Orthodox community. The detainees’ passports were confiscated pending disciplinary proceedings.

Sources: Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel