Adopting a refusenik - a programme to support conscientious objectors in Israel

The Israeli refusenik organisation Yesh Gvul has a programme called "adopt a refusenik", aimed at generating support for Israeli refusenik and conscientious objectors. As part of WRI's campaign to support conscientious objectors in Israel, WRI also promote Yesh Gvul's "adopt a refusenik" programme.

Yesh Gvul: Adopting a refusenik

We in Yesh Gvul have found over the years that an effective way of supporting jailed refuseniks, is by having them adopted by support groups from outside of Israel.

Whenever a refusenik is jailed, support groups are alerted, sparking a broad range of activities. E-mails, letters and phone calls go out to the refusenik's family, and to the jail where he is held; the adoption group exerts political pressure with protests to the nearest Israeli diplomatic mission, while conducting extensive actions within its own community to highlight the existence in Israel of a solid body of opinion dedicated to peace. The adoption group also offers material assistance, raising funds to help the refusenik's dependents, and aid in Yesh Gvul's campaign. The support network has been invaluable in underpinning the efforts of Yesh Gvul for an end to the occupation and a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Practical Steps

Moral Support

As soon as the group declares its willingness to adopt a prisoner, a complete kit goes out including personal information - age, occupation, marital status (and hopefully a picture), phone and mail contacts, details of family members that request contact, and recommendations by the refusenik's counselor in Israel about how to provide support. The kit includes information about addresses for letters and e-mails and who to phone. Such calls are of enormous help at a time of great stress.

Political Action

We recommend the following actions:

Protests in support of the prisoner and calling for his/her release at the nearest Israeli mission, tied in with pressure on local media/politicians etc. with the intention of bringing pressure on the IDF and the Israeli government.

Letters to Israeli politicians and military leaders:

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

Copies can be sent to the commanders of the prisons at:

Commander of Military Prison No. 6,
Military Prison No. 6,
Military postal number 01860,
IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-4-869-28-84

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

Another useful address for sending copies would be the Military Attorney General:

Brig. Gen. Menachem Finklestein
Chief Military Attorney
Military postal code 9605
IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-569-43-70

Financial support

Reservists called in for active duty get their civilian salary replaced by Israeli National Insurance. Needless to say, refuseniks who are jailed are denied this support. Keren Yesh Gvul (the Yesh Gvul Fund) provides refuseniks requesting it with financial assistance, approximately $750 US for a month in prison. Groups can help out by raising this money and making out a check to the order of:

"Keren Yesh Gvul", to be mailed to: PO Box 6953, Jerusalem 91068, ISRAEL

Contacting Yesh Gvul:

Tel: +972-2-6250271
e-mail: peretz@yesh-gvul.org
website: http://www.yesh-gvul.org/english.html