ISRAEL: Conscientious objector N.N. (name removed) sentenced to 21 days in prison

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On Sunday, 3 February 2002, conscientious objector N.N. (name removed) (18) reported to a gathering point for new recruits in Haifa, accompanied by a group of demonstrators from 'New Profile', 'The Support Forum for Conscientious Objectors' and 'The Sons of the Country' movement (Abnaa El-Balad). He declared his refusal to be conscripted, and was sent to the Military Induction Base ("Baqum"), tried, and sentenced to 21 days incarceration in Military Prison 4 in Tzrifin.

N.N. is one of the organisers of the "letter of the 12th-graders", an open letter to Ariel Sharon, in which more than 60 youths declare their non-cooperation with the Israeli army. Yair Khilou (ISR11763), another organiser and signatory to the letter, is presently serving his second prison term.

In late 2000, N.N. supported his brother Eyal N. through his decision to quit his own military service and the ordeal following it, which had included a short prison term. N.N. himself had informed the Israeli military authorities of his decision to refuse service in early 2001, but was almost completely ignored - the 'Conscience Committee' refused to grant him an audience, and he was scheduled to be drafted on 3 February 2002.

Following is a statement authored by N.N. in view of his coming imprisonment:

"Many Israelis believe in separation from the Palestinian populace. Some call for the erection of a segregating fence between ourselves and the Palestinian populace of the 1967-occupied territories, while some call for an agreement with the "legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people". In this way, they claim, the occupation will be ended and Israel shall be cleansed of its responsibility for the situation of the Palestinians. It is interesting to note that both "left-wing" and right-wing governments intend to achieve an agreement with the band of criminals at the top of the Palestinian National Authority. That is to say, even if the Israeli regime vilifies and indemns Arafat and the PNA, it intends to reach an agreement with him. The differences between the Israeli right and "left" revolve around the question of the extent of military pressure to be applied to the Palestinian populace in order to reach these agreements.

"The conclusion to be drawn is that the guiding principles of practically the entire political spectrum in Israel are the same. This matter in itself should apparently be surprising, but I myself am not at all surprised by it. The nationalistic Israeli regime has come to understand what western powers
have long known: that the use of military forces to attain economic goals is 'pass?'; not only is its appearance improper but it also fails to allow maximum economic exploitation of the territory. However, the maintenance of a powerful army and the occasional military intervention can definitely be of use.

"Those who believe that ending the military occupation and the evacuation of the settlers will resolve the conflict are mistaken. It is naive to think that a flag, an anthem and an emblem will solve the Palestinian populace's problems. As long as millions of people live in sub-human conditions and perceive Israel - justly - to be the main culprit, this area will not know rest. At any rate, not for any long period of time. The only way to ensure stability in the area is the assurance of fitting economic conditions for the population - both the guarantee of a reasonable existence for the Palestinian populace and the solution to the problems of poverty in Israel, poverty which stems from the neglect of the weaker socio-economic strata in favour of grants to capital-owners and "welfare" for foreign corporations.

"Peace will not come to this area while the state of Israel continues to exist in its present form. The difficulty of reaching a solution is not caused by the mere presence of the residents of Israel in this country, but rather with its rule by Zionism; a rule which succeeds, by means of propaganda, to impair the public's objective judgement of the situation.
According to the Israeli version, "we" (supposedly myself and Gad Ze'evi [a well-known Israeli multi-millionaire] are equal in this respect…?) are always attacked by the "bad guys", we are the poor victim trying to defend himself… There is no legitimacy for the existence of a state based on foreign capital and military activity. Consequently, a change in the regional order is the solution. The Zionist regime in this country uses the term "the termination of the state of Israel" whenever such schemes are proposed. Have you ever considered the meaning of this term? Probably not, since the 'danger' of which the Zionist leadership warns is really the termination of the state dependence on the army and on foreign capital, a change in the economic order of the area.

"If the current order lasts, a bleak future is in store for all inhabitants of this land. Even if a "peace agreement" is reached, it will but serve the American and Israeli capitalists. It will enable, in practice, a reduction of wages due to "competition" (a word so beloved by the capitalists), since for the same work an Israeli does at 3200 NIS per month, Palestinians shall be available for hire for a monthly wage 4 times lower.
"I do not intend to partake in this game, whose outcome is pre-evident. As the political system, from right to "left", serves the same foolish purposes and the population has no real way of effecting policy. In public opinion polls, Israelis give their parliament a 'Failing' grade, and most of them know exactly who the politicians serve. Yet education has its effect, propaganda has its effect, and it is the very oppressed that uphold the
system of whom they are one of the main injured parties.

"Whose state is it, anyway?"

War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Igal Rosenberg:
N.N.

Military ID xxxxxxx

Military Prison No 4

Military postal code 02507

IDF

Israel

War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the Israeli authorities and Israeli embassies abroad.

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

Andreas Speck

War Resisters' International

ADDRESSES

Mr. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer,

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 03734,

IDF

Israel.

Fax: ++972-4-869-28-84

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