ISRAEL: CO Leonid Kressner sentenced to 4 months

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War Resisters' International learned today that conscientious objector Leonid Kressner was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment for refusing to serve in the army. He is presently held in solitary confinement. Leonid Kressner declared his conscientious objection long before he was drafted. He was imprisoned on 15 October 2001, when he reported to Military Prison No 6, after 69 days of absence from military service. He was held in prison since, mostly in solitary confinement, and was refused visits by his family at least twice. Leonid Kressner's sentence of 4 months imprisonment is exceptionally long. The is concern that the length of his prison sentence is part of an overall pattern of discrimination against immigrants in the military judiciary system. Leonid Kressner is now again kept in solitary confinement in Military Prison No 6 for his refusal to wear military uniform in prison. War Resisters' International was informed by New Profile from Israel that his mental condition is deteriorating. His family is greatly concerned for his condition, especially with the prospects of spending more than two additional months in solitary confinement.

In this situation, War Resisters' International urges everybody to write postcards or letters of support to Leonid Kressner. Leonid Kressner Military ID 7156547 Military Prison No 6 Military postal number 03734 IDF Israel The is a possibility that the prison authorities will deny him access to mail he receives. To make sure he receives your letters, please send a copy of them via email or airmail to: New Profile P.O. Box 48005 Tel Aviv 61480 Israel email newprofile@speedy.co.il

War Resisters' International urges everybody to write letters/faxes of protest to the commander of Military Prison No 6, to the Military Attorney General, to the Israeli Minister of Defence, and to Israeli embassies. Please stress the following points: demand the immediate end of solitary confinement, protest the exceptionally long prison sentence, call for Leonid Kressner's immediate unconditional release from prison.

The relevant addresses are:

Commander of Military Prison No. 6, Military Prison No. 6, Military postal number 03734, IDF Israel. FAX: +972-4-869-28-84

Military Attorney General, Military postal number 9605, IDF, Israel. Fax: +972-3-569-43-70

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

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