The Israel Police criticized the Military Police over its handling of the arrest of a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft evader overnight between Monday and Tuesday in Modi'in's Nofim neighborhood.
According to a police review, the small Military Police force that arrived at the scene did not immediately remove the draft evader after his arrest, despite procedures requiring it to do so. Instead, police gave him an extended period to get organized. Israel Police was only called in after dozens of protesters gathered at the scene, with officers assisting in extracting the force and restoring order.
Police officials stressed that the decision to release the draft evader and issue him an order to regularize his status was made by IDF officials, not the Israel Police. They said police acted at the military's request, dispatched large numbers of officers to the scene, and helped implement the decision while restoring public order.
Also on Tuesday, a senior IDF official said that "the police should assist in arresting deserters," KAN News reported. He claimed that the young members of the Military Police "have no chance" in such a situation, emphasizing that they "must receive police assistance with much larger forces in order to arrest deserters."
Modi'in Mayor Haim Bibas, who also serves as Local Authorities Federation chairman, called on both the police and the military to examine their conduct.
"The police and the military must also provide answers about their conduct and, above all, about their lack of preparation overnight," said Bibas. "How does an operation to arrest a draft evader end without the arrest, while the rioters celebrate? In my view, this result is a serious failure. It sends a dangerous message: Anyone who uses enough force can thwart law enforcement."
Bibas addresses neighborhood unrest amid clashes between protesters, police
He also addressed the unrest in the neighborhood and the clashes between protesters and the forces that arrived at the scene.
"We all woke up this morning to the reports and disgraceful videos of haredi rioters who came in the middle of the night to the Nofim neighborhood to thwart the arrest of a draft evader, disturbed residents and clashed with police officers and municipal policing teams who arrived at the scene to assist," he said.
He said the police and military must ensure that such an incident does not happen again and provide forces on the ground with the backing and resources needed to complete their mission.
"Anyone who comes to Modi'in to riot will encounter a harsh and determined response," Bibas warned. "We will act through every legal means available to us to prevent a recurrence of the incident and protect the city's residents."
He added that the rioters who came to the scene were not residents of the city and did not represent its values.
"Our children serve and fight, residents leave their homes for additional rounds of reserve duty, and families in the city have paid the heaviest price of all," he emphasized.
He then called on the government and haredi leadership to take concrete steps to increase enlistment.
Bibas: Those who cannot enlist should contribute through other means
"Anyone who can enlist must enlist," declared Bibas. "Anyone who cannot serve in the military should contribute through national or civilian service, and anyone who does not contribute should not receive a single thing from the state. Responsibility for the security of the state belongs to all of us."
He concluded by referring to the military service of his children, who completed full combat service and reported for duty on October 7.
"Like many families in the city, my family also knows what service and responsibility to the state mean, including in these days," said Bibas. "We will not accept a situation in which our children are required again and again to report for duty, while others exempt themselves from the same obligation and then come to our city to riot."
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.