Israel

In the previous month, the WRI office issued the following co-alerts:

(a full archive of co-alerts is available at http://wri-irg.org/news/alerts)

TURKEY: UPDATE: Sahin Ozbay released 28/04/05

TURKEY: Trial against Mehmet Tarhan adjourned.

On 13 March, a letter signed by 250 Israeli youth was sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Minister of Defence Shaul Mofaz, and others.

The status of women under the Israeli conscription law, and practice, has always been exceptional. Now, legal developments threaten to deprive women conscientious objectors in Israel of the little recognition of their right to CO that they enjoyed so far.

In the previous month, the WRI office issued the following co-alerts:

(a full archive of co-alerts is available at http://wri-irg.org/news/alerts)

ISRAEL: Women CO Laura Milo back in prison 31/08/04 ISRAEL: Conscientious objector Danny Breutman sentenced to 21 days in prison 05/08/04

While women CO Laura Milo (picture left) went to prison on 23 August for her second prison term (see co-alert from 31 August 2004), Daniel Tsal was finally released from the army after 112 days in prison. In an open letter to all supporters he writes:

"I have just been released from the IDF after 112 days in military jail.

New Profile launched a report on Child Recruitment in Israel on 29 July 2004. This comprehensive report, for the first time, surveys and analyses diverse forms of compulsory and voluntary, direct and indirect, child recruitment in Israel. Such recruitment often violates international law and always violates the Israeli society's commitment to protect its children from involvement in armed conflict.

The report describes various forms of child recruitment by State authorities, private organisations and armed militias in Israel.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi's struggle with them military is still not over. In April 2004, the pacifist was sentenced to two month in prison, after having been exempted from military service. Jonathan Ben-Artzi appealed against the sentence, and is presently not in prison.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi, a pacifist conscientious objector, told the IDF from early on that he does not have any intention to enlist. What followed was a long prelude to the later court-martial, consisting of several hearings in front of the Conscience committee, and repeated imprisonment.

After performing military service (for three years), Israeli men usually have to do reserve duties of 30 days once per year, according to the law up to the age of 50. The group "Courage to Refuse", which now has more than 600 members, calls for the refusal to any service in the Occupied Territories. In this case, objectors are often sentenced to two to four weeks in military prison.

Dror Etzion joined Courage to Refuse in 2003. So far, he did not spend time in prison.

On 4 January, 2004 Five conscripted Conscientious Objectors were sentenced to an additional year in prison on top of the year they have been held for refusing to serve in the IDF. The sentence is, in effect, an unlimited one as the prosecution intends to jail them till they agree to serve. That's the price they will pay for refusing to be part of the brutal occupation.

The 5 COs are being punished because of their convictions - the severity of the punishment reflects the Israeli government's fear of those convictions.

On 4 January 2004, the "trial of the five" came to an end.

Communication addressed to the Government on 2 May 2003.

Concerning: Matan Kaminer, Adam Maor, Noam Bahat and Jonathan Ben-Artzi.

The State has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

1. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was established by Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/42. The mandate of the Working Group was clarified by resolution 1997/50 and extended by resolution 2003/31. Acting in accordance with its methods of work, the Working Group forwarded to the Government the above-mentioned communication.

"I do not believe in brutality and use of force. I feel the Military and the Politicians have brought this war upon our heads. I will not enter the territories occupied in 1967. I don't believe in the expansion of Israel.

Also, I believe it is inappropriate to assign us, teacher-soldiers who have barely had 2 our briefings on the matter, to instruct children on how to defend themselves from artillery and gun fire. They should send experts to do that.