ISRAEL: Conscientious objector Leonid Kressner on hunger strike

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War Resisters' International got news today from Leonid Kressner's father that Leonid is on hunger strike since Thursday (18 Oct.), and that the prison authorities tried and probably succeeded to force-feed him earlier today (22/10/01). Force-feeding is among the gravest violations of prisoners' rights.

Leonid Kressner (ISR11598), an 18-year-old pacifist CO, reported at Military Prison No 6 last Monday, and was transferred to Military Prison No 4 on Tuesday, where he now is held in the isolation ward, because he refuses to wear the military uniform.

War Resisters' International fears for the safety of Leonid Kressner. Therefore War Resisters' International urges all peace and human rights activists and groups - and indeed everybody - to send letters of protest to the Israeli authorities (addresses below), strongly protesting this inhuman and illegal treatment. The letters should be addressed to the Minister of Defence. Copies to the commander of the prison where Leonid is held are necessary. Sending copies to the Chief of Staff to the Military Attorney General and to your local Israeli embassy (if you live outside Israel) are very much recommended. Copies to other authorities and media could be very useful as well.

It is preferable to send your letters by fax. A sample letter follows. Also, please continue sending Leonid letters of support to prison.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Leonid Kressner, and all other imprisoned COs.

Andreas Speck, War Resisters' International

Write to Leonid Kressner and Yair Halper:

Leonid Kressner

Military ID 7156547

Military Prison No. 4,

Military postal number 02507, IDF

Israel.

ADDRESSES:

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

Military Attorney General, Military postal number 9605, IDF, Israel. Fax: +972-3-569-43-70 Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, IDF Chief of Staff, Ha-Qirya, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Fax: +972-3-569-55-94

Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Prime Ministers' Office, Qiriat David Ben-Gurion Jerusalem, Israel. e-mail: webmaster@pmo.gov.il Fax: +972-2-566-48-38 / +972-2-651-26-31

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

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