The Israeli military is preparing to launch proactive arrest operations targeting bnei yeshiva who avoid the army in chareidi population centers as early as next week, according to a report aired Wednesday evening on Kan News.

As part of the planned operations, the IDF has requested extensive assistance from the Israel Police, both for security and for handling possible disturbances and protests expected in chareidi neighborhoods during the arrests.

In the coming days, police and military officials are expected to hold a series of joint assessments regarding the operation. Current estimates reportedly call for hundreds of police officers to be assigned to assist the effort.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office said in a statement that “joint planning efforts are currently taking place with the Israel Police in order to coordinate enforcement actions by the military police in the public sphere.”

The statement added: “We emphasize that this coordination is critical and directly impacts the areas in which the IDF can operate in carrying out arrests.”

In the past, Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy had refused to allocate police forces for operations of this nature. However, a recent ruling by Israel’s High Court sharply criticized the police over what it described as insufficient enforcement.

Meanwhile, Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, instructed party representatives throughout Israel on Wednesday to immediately halt cooperation with the Israel Police.

“Following the policy change by the Israel Police, and so that we should not, Heaven forbid, become partners in harming the holy Torah and its learners, I request that all cooperation with the Israel Police, including municipal policing, cease immediately until further notice,” Gafni wrote.

Following Gafni’s directive — and amid growing anger in the chareidi street over the intensified policy toward yeshiva bochurim classified as draft dodgers — Commissioner Levy held a special high-level assessment regarding relations between the police and the chareidi community.

During the meeting, Levy reportedly stressed that responsibility for handling draft dodgers rests primarily with the IDF and the military police, while the Israel Police merely provides assistance, just as it does for other law enforcement agencies.

Senior police officials also claimed that despite current tensions, cooperation with the chareidi public remains ongoing and that regular channels of communication continue between police commanders, rabbonim, and public figures within the chareidi sector.

During the discussion, Levy also announced plans to hold meetings in the near future with heads of chareidi municipalities.

In addition, the commissioner instructed police officials to examine complaints that chareidim arriving at police stations to file reports are being detained, emphasizing that members of the public should be able to enter police stations, report crimes, and receive police services without fear.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the IDF had formally requested police assistance for proactive operations aimed at arresting chareidi draft dodgers beginning already in early June.

The request is currently under review by the police operations division, with ongoing discussions regarding the manpower needed for such operations.

{Matzav.com}