ISRAEL: Six refusenik imprisoned - one more to be imprisoned tomorrow

War Resisters' International learned today that six new refuseniks have been imprisoned in Israel during the last week. A further refusenik - Haggai Matar (ISR12701) -, one of the organisers of the Shministim movement, which organised the letter of the seniors (high school students in their last year), is likely to be imprisoned tomorrow. Haggai Matar wrote in his statement:
"... The voice of conscience and the lessons Humanity should have derived from countless similar situations in the past leave me no choice but to refuse enlistment to the Israeli army - which is falsely dubbed a "Defensive Force". My refusal to enlist is inevitable. The oppression known by the peoples of the area at the age of Empires, the torment of the slaves and the Indians in North America, Algiers' War of Independence and the Apartheid in South Africa - all these have made my refusal inevitable. My grandfather's actions in WW2, in his fight against the Nazi Fascism, and his belief in humanism - these too lead to my refusal. At home I learnt of oppression and Justice. At the face of such evil as one may find here and now, there is no other way..." "... In the prison, when I will be forced to salute State and Army - I shall, in my mind and heart, be saluting all my brave friends.... To all those who sacrifice so much more then I - for peace, against the occupation...".

Yoni Yechezkel (ISR12372), who already spent 14 days in military prison from 8 August 2002 on (ISR12372-160802), was again sentenced to imprisonment on 15 October, this time to 28 days in Military Prison No 6. He is due to be released on 9 November 2002.

Uri Ya'akobi (ISR12376) was sentenced to a fourth term in prison; on 15 October to 28 days in Military Prison No 4. On 14 August he was sentenced to 14 days, and on 1 September he was sentenced to 28 days in prison. He spent his third term of seven days (from 1 October on) in Military Prison No 4 too.

Avner Inbar (ISR12697), Sgt. Maj., was sentenced to 21 days in Military Prison No 6. He is due to be released on 3 November.

Yuval Endoran (ISR12698), Staff Sgt., was sentenced to 28 days in Military Prison No 6 on 16 October. He is due out on 10 November 2002.

Idan Eisner (ISR12699), Staff Sgt., was sentenced to 35 days in Military Prison No 6 on 16 October. He is due out on 16 November 2002.

Yigal Unik (ISR12700), Sgt. Maj., was sentenced to 35 days in Military Prison No 6 on 16 October. He too is due out on 16 November 2002.

War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to these imprisoned conscientious objectors.

Uri Ya'acovi
Military Prison No 4
Military Postal Code 02507
IDF, Israel

Yoni Yechezkel
Sgt. Maj. Avner Inbar
Staff Sgt. Yuval Endoran
Staff Sgt. Idan Eisner
Sgt. Maj. Yigal Unik
Military Prison No 6
Military Postal Code 01860
IDF, Israel

War Resisters' International calls for protest letters 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):
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Tel-Aviv, 61001
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-681-00-12

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

Jerusalem Post:
POB 81
Jerusalem 91000
Israel
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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