ISRAEL: Update on imprisonment of conscientious objectors

While conscientious objector Jonathan Ben-Artzi was convicted on 12 November 2003 of refusing to enlist (though sentencing is still to happen), other conscientious objectors went to prison recently. Some of them might await the same fate.

Konstantin Soskin (ISR13190) was sentenced again to 28 days in Military Prison, which he is serving in the isolation ward of military prison no 4. As a pacifist, Konstantin Soskin refuses to wear a military uniform. This is at least his fifth imprisonment - earlier co-alerts have been sent out and the last one can be viewed at http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20030530a.html.

Yoel Perlman (ISR13225) was is now in his fourth prison term, awaiting a court martial for desertion, which will start on 27 November 2003. Yoel Perlman's case too was reported in several co-alerts: http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20030414a.html and http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20030703a.html .

Gil Avnimelch (ISR13803) is still in prison for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. He is due to be released on 24 November.

Inbal Gelbert (ISR13820), a women CO, spent 12 says in military prison recently, after she refused to enlist in the Israeli army. Although women COs usually get exempted from military service, Inbal Gelbert's request to see the Conscience Committee for women was rejected, and she was ordered to enlist. At present Inbal Gelbert is waiting to see whether the IDF will allow her to see the Conscience Committee or not.

Ariel Hendels (ISR13821) was sentenced to 28 days on 11 November 2003 for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. He is due out on 9 December 2003.

Laiv Tazhi (ISR13822) was sentenced to 28 days on 11 November 2003, for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. He is due out on 9 December 2003.

Peres Eezra (ISR13823) was sentenced to 28 days on 11 November 2003 for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. He is due out on 9 December 2003.

Tom Mehager (ISR13824) was sentenced to 28 days on 6 November 2003 for refusing to serve at a road-block which was erected for the purpose of collective punishment of the Palestinian population of a nearby village. He is due out on 4 December 2003.

Iftach Cohen (ISR13825) was sentenced to 21 days for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories on 21 November 2003. He is due out on 9 December 2003.

Guy Shalev (ISR13826) was sentenced to 28 days for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories on 7 November 2003. He is due out on 2 December 2003.

Ido Shachar (ISR13827) was sentenced to 28 days for refusing to guard a settlement in the Occupied Territories on 13 November 2003. He is due out on 8 December 2003.

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

Konstantin Soskin
Yoel Perlman
Ariel Hendels
Laiv Tzahi
Peres Eezra
Iftach Cohen
Guy Shalev
Ido Shachar
Military Prison No 4
Military postal code 02507
IDF, Israel

Gil Avnimelch
Tom Mehager
Military Prison No 6
Military postal code 01860
IDF, Israel

War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to Israeli authorities, and Israeli embassies abroad. An email letter can be sent at http://www.wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20031121b.html.

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

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International

Addresses
Shaul Mofaz
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 embassies can be found at http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.htm

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:
P.O. Box 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