Israel: Refusers Shahar, Einat, Evyatar and Nave imprisoned again

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Israeli conscientious objectors Sharar, Einar, Evyatar and Nave

Today in Israel, four conscientious objectors, Shahar Schwartz (18-year-old), Einat Gerlitz (19), Evyatar Moshe Rubin (19), and Nave Shabtay Levin (18), were imprisoned again for their refusal to serve in the military. The four objectors jointly declared their refusal to join the Israeli army in September, stating their refusal to take part in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. With their last imprisonment, each of them will stay 45 days more in prison. See below for more details.

In their statement refusers said 

We, Israeli youth, refuse to join the Israeli army and take part in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip. We call out to all citizens of Israel to open their eyes and see the policy of oppression over the palestinian people carried out by the Israeli government. We object to the militaristic education forced on us by the same oppressive policies, we object to the educational system teaching us to hate our neighbors, and we object to the social norms that prohibits the educational system from sharing the true reality in the Palestinian territories with children and youth. We feel it is important to show there is another way. 

Read their full statement, translated by the Refuser Solidarity Network, here. 

This is Shahar Schwartz’s 6th imprisonment, and Einat Gerlitz, Evyatar Moshe Rubin and Nave Shabtay Levin’s 4th imprisonment.

Sharar has already spent 60 days in prison. By the end of his last imprisonment, Sharar will have spent 105 days in total in prison. 

Einat, who has already spent 57 days in prison, will have spent 102 days in total in prison by the end of her last imprisonment. 

Evyatar has already spent 50 days in prison. By the end of his last imprisonment, Evyatar will have spent 95 days in prison in total. 

Nave has already spent 35 days in prison and by the end of his last imprisonment, he will have spent 80 days in total in prison.

How to support?

  • Share the joint statement of Sharar, Einat and Evyata and Nave within your networks and on your social media with the hashtag #SupportThe4; help them spread the word. You can find their statement here. 
  • Write to the refusers themselves, sharing your messages of solidarity with them using the link here.