A 26-year-old yungerman from Ofakim was arrested overnight at a gas station between Netivot and Ofakim after military authorities identified him as a draft evader wanted for military service.

The arrest took place just hours before the start of Shavuos, when traffic police conducting a routine inspection discovered that the young man was listed in military records as absent from IDF service. He was subsequently transferred to the custody of the military police.

According to reports from the Nosnim Gav organization, the avreich was taken to Ir HaBahadim for further processing and to determine possible punishment.

The organization stated that “the case is currently being reviewed by professional representatives and attorneys accompanying the family.”

The group also called on the public to daven for the swift release of Tzuriel ben Simcha.

The arrest comes amid growing tensions surrounding enforcement efforts against chareidi draft evaders and follows reports released ahead of Shavuos indicating that nine chareidi young men classified as deserters are expected to spend Yom Tov in military prison.

Organizations involved in assisting draft evaders and deserters say the number of arrests has increased in recent weeks, attributing the rise to heightened enforcement activity by military authorities.

The arrest has generated significant anger in chareidi circles, particularly because it occurred only hours before Yom Tov and involved a married avreich and young father whose life is devoted to Torah learning.

{Matzav.com}