Aviel Cohen
Aviel Cohen is a Haredi yeshiva student whose detention for draft evasion in June 2026 became a focal point for political intervention and social protest regarding the enlistment of the ultra-Orthodox in Israel.
Aviel Cohen is a yeshiva student (Avreich) who gained public attention in June 2026 following his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for draft evasion. His case emerged during a period of heightened social and legal tension in Israel concerning the universal draft and the status of ultra-Orthodox students within the military system. Cohen was sentenced to 14 days in Military Prison 10, a move that sparked immediate protests from the Haredi community. Demonstrations were held outside the military facility, highlighting the ongoing friction between the state's enlistment requirements and the religious lifestyle of the Haredi sector.
The case transitioned from a local disciplinary matter to a political event when the Shas party, led by Aryeh Deri, claimed credit for securing his early release. Despite the original two-week sentence, reports indicated that Cohen would be released before the following Shabbat. This intervention by Shas underscores the party's role as a primary advocate for yeshiva students facing legal consequences for non-enlistment. The incident serves as a microcosm of the broader Israeli debate over 'equality in the burden' of service, illustrating how individual cases of draft evasion are often managed through high-level political channels to maintain coalition stability and communal peace. Cohen's release, framed by Shas as a political achievement, reflects the persistent challenges the IDF faces in enforcing draft orders within the ultra-Orthodox community while political leaders negotiate the boundaries of military law and religious exemptions.