ISRAEL: Conscientious objector Atalia Ben-Abba imprisoned for the third time

Conscientious objector Atalia Ben-Abba, 19, was imprisoned again for her refusal to serve in the IDF. This is Atalia's third imprisonment and she will spend 30 more days behind bars in addition 50 days she has already served.

Send your protest emails to the Israeli authorities here.

Atalia's declaration

In her declaration Atalia states:

My social responsibility as a stakeholder in our society is important to me. The people living here are important to me, all of the people living here, and it's my responsibility and the responsibility of all of us to act for a better life here. My refusal to be drafted doesn't come out of a renunciation of this responsibility, but out of the understanding that our present reality needs to be changed, and that my refusal is my way to change it.

Read Atalia's full declaration here.

Tamar Alon and Tamar Ze'evi released

Meanwhile, refusers Tamar Alon and Tamar Ze'evi, for whom we have asked your support at various times in the last couple of months, were freed after each spending more than 100 days behind bars. Tamar Ze'evi, who stayed in prison 115 days in total, has had her conscientious objection recognised, and has been granted CO status as a political refuser. This has been the first time in 13 years that the IDF has granted CO status to a political refuser. Ze'evi was released on 23rd March.

Following Ze'evi's release, Tamar Alon was freed on 5th April, after serving 130 days in military prison. In her hearing on 2nd April, the committee voted not to exempt Alon from military service and release her. However, a few days later a higher ranking officer ordered her release on the grounds of “incompatibility and especially bad behavior” — as is customary in the Israeli military following a lengthy imprisonment.

Solidarity

As well as filling in our email alert you can also send your emails of support to Atalia. Use this link to write them and your messages will be passed on.

You can also write to Israel's embassies abroad. Find a list of these here.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of all conscientious objectors.