ISRAEL: Newly imprisoned refuseniks

Five more refuseniks were imprisoned recently in Israel, most of whom got sentences of 28 days.

Sgt. Shahar Samucha (ISR12369) was sentenced on 14 August, and is due to be released on 5 September. He is imprisoned in Military Prison No 6.

Ron Smilanski (ISR12370) was sentenced on 13 August, and is due to be released on 5 September. He too is imprisoned in Military Prison No 6.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi (ISR12371), nephew of the right-wing conservative Hagai Ben Artzi and Sarah Netanjahu, wife of the former Prime Minister, was sentenced on 8 August to 28 days imprisonment in Military Prison No 4. He is due out on 3 September. In a statement to the IDF authorities he wrote: "I, Jonathan Ben-Artzi, am refusing to join the army on grounds of pacifism. My profound convictions in non-violence began when I was a small child, and developed over the years into a broad political philosophy. Because of my beliefs, my own country is going to imprison me, in defiance of international laws, basic moral values and fundamental human rights. I will go to prison proudly, knowing that this is the least I can do to improve this country, and the cause of pacifism."

Yoni Yechezkel (ISR12372) was sentenced on 8 August to 14 days imprisonment in Military Prison No 4. He is due out on 20 August 2002.

Dror Boimel (ISR12373) was sentenced on 13 August to imprisonment in Military Prison No 4. He is due out on 5 September.

War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to all imprisoned conscientious objectors:

Military Prison No 4
Military Postal Code 02507
IDF, Israel

Military Prison No 6
Military Postal Code 01860
IDF, Israel

War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the Israeli authorities, and Israeli embassies abroad.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of all imprisoned conscientious objectors.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International
ADDRESSES

Mr. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer,
Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
37 Kaplan st.,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
e-mail: mailto:sar@mod.gov.il or mailto:pniot@mod.gov Fax: ++972-3-696-27-57 / ++972-3-691-69-40 / ++972-3-691-79-15

Commander of Military Prison No. 4,
Military Postal Code 02507
IDF, Israel
Fax: ++972-3-957-52-76

Commander of Military Prison No 6
Military Prison No 6
Military postal number 01860,
IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-4-869-28-84

Addresses of Israeli media:
Ma'ariv:
2 Karlibach st.
Tel-Aviv 67132
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-561-06-14
e-mail: editor@maariv.co.il

Yedioth Aharonoth:
2 Moses st.
Tel-Aviv
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-608-25-46

Ha'aretz (Hebrew):
21 Schocken st.
Tel-Aviv, 61001
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-681-00-12

Ha'aretz (English edition):
21 Schocken st.
Tel-Aviv, 61001
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-512-11-56
e-mail: letters@haaretz.co.il

Jerusalem Post:
POB 81
Jerusalem 91000
Israel
Fax: ++972-2-538-95-27
e-mail: news@jpost.co.il or letters@jpost.co.il

Jerusalem Report:
Fax: ++972-2-537-94-89

Radio (fax numbers):
Kol-Israel ++972-2-531-33-15 and ++972-3-694-47-09 Galei Tzahal ++972-3-512-67-20

Television (fax numbers):
Channel 1 ++972-2-530-15-36
Channel 2 ++972-2-533-98-09