More than 60 people detained in Israel ahead of pilgrimage to Uman — Jerusalem Post
More than 60 people who failed to report for military conscription were detained at border crossing points in Israel. Many of them were ultra-Orthodox men attempting to travel to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Most of the detentions took place at Ben Gurion Airport as the men attempted to leave Israel. Several more cases were recorded at the Taba border crossing. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the detention of dozens of people over the past two days but did not give an exact number of those detained or disclose details about them.
Military actions at the border
The IDF said that measures to detain people who did not report for conscription are carried out routinely together with the Population and Immigration Authority. Preparations for such actions are adjusted according to the situation assessment. The military also noted that people subject to conscription can regularize their status and report for service.
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A representative of the Population and Immigration Authority explained that the agency checks everyone listed in the system as a person with an exit restriction. If the restriction was imposed by the military, the army is called to the scene and decides whether to detain the person. According to the official, following technological changes introduced during Passover, people barred from leaving the country can be identified as early as flight check-in, including online.
Warning for pilgrims
The “I Entrusted Guards” hotline urged ultra-Orthodox youth who risk being detained not to come to border crossing points. It said that the risk exists not only at Ben Gurion Airport but also when attempting to leave Israel through land crossings.
Every year, tens of thousands of Breslov Hasidim from Israel and other countries travel to Uman to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Senior rabbis of the Breslov community advised those who may face detention not to go to Ben Gurion Airport and not to regularize their military status solely in order to depart.
