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Shas Accuses Attorney General of Election Interference Following Arrests of 42 Chabad Bochurim at Ben Gurion Airport

October 21st,

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The Chareidi party sharply criticized Israel's attorney general following the detention of dozens of Chabad bochurim, accusing her of political interference as tensions over military enlistment continue to escalate.

The Shas party has launched a sharp attack against Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara following the detention of 42 Chabad bochurim at Ben Gurion Airport, accusing her of attempting to influence the upcoming Knesset elections through the enforcement of military enlistment requirements.

In a statement issued Tuesday, October 20, Shas condemned the detentions and alleged that the enforcement actions were politically motivated.

The arrests took place as dozens of Chabad bochurim arrived in Eretz Yisroel, where they were detained in connection with their military enlistment status.

The incident sparked widespread concern in the Chareidi community and prompted intervention by Chareidi representatives seeking the bochurim's release.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri instructed MK Yinon Azoulay to contact senior IDF officials and press for the immediate release of the detained bochurim.

The party's accusation against Baharav-Miara represents a further escalation in the dispute surrounding the enforcement of military service requirements for yeshiva students.

However, Shas has not publicly established that the attorney general personally ordered the arrests or that the enforcement operation was intended to influence the elections. The accusation remains the party's political allegation rather than a proven finding.

The IDF has maintained that its enforcement activity at border crossings is carried out under the Defense Service Law.

The airport incident initially resulted in differing reports regarding the number of bochurim released or transferred into military custody.

Subsequent reporting indicated that 40 of the 42 bochurim were released, while two remained in military prison.

The arrests have renewed concern among Chareidi families over the consequences facing yeshiva bochurim who travel to Eretz Yisroel while their military status remains unresolved.

The controversy comes amid continuing disagreements over the future of military enlistment exemptions for yeshiva students, an issue that has placed considerable strain on relations between Chareidi political representatives and state authorities.

For Shas, the airport detentions have now become part of a broader confrontation with the attorney general over the government's handling of the draft issue.

The latest dispute underscores the growing tension surrounding the status of yeshiva bochurim and the political fallout from continued enforcement measures.

No separate response from Baharav-Miara's office specifically addressing Shas's election-interference accusation was established in the available reporting.