A bochur who spent the past year in Kevutza at 770 was arrested yesterday at Ben Gurion Airport upon his return to Eretz Yisroel. He is the first bochur from the 5785 Kevutza to be arrested upon his return.

“In the coming two weeks,” Chabad reporter Mendy Rizel notes, “dozens more bochurim are expected to return and face arrest, following the cancellation of the arrangement with Chabad.”

Since 5776 (2016), an arrangement has allowed Chabad yeshiva students to defer military service until their mid-20s, after generally completing their years of learning in yeshiva. Under this framework, Chabad was the largest charedi group to enlist, with over a thousand soldiers participating. However, the law enabling this arrangement was repealed two years ago, and subsequent efforts to establish a new framework have repeatedly failed.

As reported by Anash.org, the original arrangement between the IDF and bochurim traveling abroad collapsed, leaving many at risk of arrest either upon departure or return. The IDF, citing legal restrictions, refused to compromise on four proposals presented by the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad aimed at renewing the “Chabad Arrangement.”

In a related incident reported by Anash.org, a bochur from one of the Chabad yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while traveling to New York to spend Tishrei at 770. He was quickly tried and sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

“They are going to pray, not to vacation,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said at a special meeting convened before Tishrei regarding the many guests traveling to the Rebbe for the holiday. “We need to find a solution for them.” Netanyahu had instructed his chief of staff to examine possible arrangements that would prevent conflict while allowing these students to travel.

It is unclear what will happen when the remainder of the bochurim from Kevutza return to Eretz Yisroel and what is being done to resolve the matter.