"Mass psychosis": how the ultra-Orthodox evade the draft
The IDF is recording a rise in applications for psychiatric exemptions from ultra-Orthodox pre-conscripts. The military suspects falsification of conclusions coming from one clinic and signed by a certain circle of specialists. The IDF has turned to the Health Ministry with a request to check the suspicions and insists on an investigation.
The IDF is recording a rise in the number of applications from ultra-Orthodox pre-conscripts for psychiatric exemptions from service. The military suspects this is a well-oiled scheme: medical certificates of mental unfitness come from the same clinic, are signed by the same specialists, and contain similar wording. The documents are sent not directly to the army but to law firms, which secure exemptions for their clients. The "mass psychosis" was discovered after the start of sending draft notices to the ultra-Orthodox and the intensification of measures against draft dodgers. The IDF has turned to the Health Ministry with a request to check suspicions that psychiatrists are helping those who do not meet the criteria to avoid service. A discussion with the police is expected. It was previously reported that organizations opposing the draft recommend that recipients of notices "check the possibility of exemption on psychiatric grounds," explaining that the certificate is not passed on to other authorities. The IDF notes that attempts to dodge the draft on psychiatric grounds are common not only among the ultra-Orthodox, but in this case, the scale and "origin" of the certificates are noteworthy. At the same time, the IDF is changing the procedure for submitting exemption requests. Cases have been identified where pre-conscripts receive exemptions without their knowledge — based on documents filed on their behalf by law firms. The IDF spokesperson confirmed that the phenomenon is known and under control, and that the IDF is acting in cooperation with the police.