An official IDF social media channel on Wednesday published a video advising haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft evaders how to avoid arrest at Ben-Gurion Airport.
The video was later deleted after Army Radio reported it and the station asked the IDF about it.
The video, published on the military's official Instagram channel for haredi service members, hardim.idf, came ahead of an expected surge of thousands of Israelis traveling to Uman, Ukraine, for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage.
In the video, an AI-generated figure dubbed "Dudi the Explainer" tells haredi men that they can avoid arrest at the airport with a "brief visit to the recruitment office with medical documents."
"Imagine you arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport, your suitcase is packed, but you are blocked at the gate... this is exactly what happens when you ignore a draft order," the AI figure says. "The immediate consequence of that is a travel ban. If you continue waiting, the next step is official designation as a draft evader and arrest.
"But this story can also have a different ending: A brief visit to the recruitment center with medical documents, and this order is behind you," it continues.
Video removed one hour after Army Radio report
In practical terms, the video tells haredi men facing a departure restriction to report to the recruitment office before traveling to Uman, allowing them to avoid detention at Ben-Gurion Airport.
It is unclear whether the IDF has a mechanism to prevent someone from reporting for the initial summons, avoiding a departure restriction, traveling to Uman, and then failing to complete the subsequent enlistment process upon returning to Israel.
One hour after Army Radio's report on the video, the IDF removed it from its haredi-oriented social media channels.
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox, Hasidic, and religious pilgrims are expected to travel to Uman this year for the annual pilgrimage to the burial site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.
Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Friday, September 11.
IDF responds to deleted 'Dudi the Explainer' video
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit responded to the video on Thursday.
"The video uploaded yesterday on the haredi branch platform has been removed. The video does not reflect IDF activity regarding status regularization, whose purpose is solely enlistment and meaningful service," the military said.
"At the same time, the purpose of the video from the outset was to explain to relevant pre-enlistees the process of status regularization, whose purpose is enlistment and service in the IDF, and at the end of which restrictions applying to the pre-enlistee are also removed," it added.
"In addition, the video was uploaded contrary to the IDF Spokesperson’s directive regarding the uploading of content during the election period. The incident will be investigated," it stated.