Early in the afternoon, before his son was released, I asked to speak with the father of Eliyahu Cohen, 19, a student at the 'Orhot David' yeshiva - an ultra-Orthodox draft refuser.
He went out into the yard of his house. "I'm still in the middle of work," he said. "You know, today is Passover Eve." When I asked how he and his son were doing, he told me, in a tone of despair, that his last visit was last Wednesday - and nothing has changed since then.
""The son reported to the recruitment office for the first order and, as I recall, for the second order as well," he said. "But on the third, he said he was afraid to report, because his friends in the yeshiva who went to the recruitment office were drafted against their will.
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And what do you say about the demonstrations, I asked. "I'm in favor of the demonstrations for my son's release," he replied. "Because that's the only way the state remembers that we exist. If it weren't for that, they wouldn't even be talking about us in the media.".
After his release and upon the yeshiva student's arrival at his home, many came to cheer him on. Dancing broke out at the scene, with those present cheering him on for standing firm against the military authorities.
In a conversation with him about his arrest, Eliyahu confirmed his father's words: "I did indeed appear for the first and second warrants, but I did not sign or cooperate with them.".
