ISRAEL: Conscientious objectors Leonid Kressner and Yair Halper arrested

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New Profile, movement for the demilitarisation of Israeli society, informed War Resisters' International today about two new arrests of conscientious objectors.

Leonid Kressner (ISR11598), an 18-year-old pacifist CO, reported at Military Prison No 6 on Monday, and was transferred to Military Prison No 4 on Tuesday, where he now is held in the isolation ward, because he refuses to wear the military uniform. Yair Halper (ISR11599), also 18, was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment and was also transferred to the isolation ward of Military Prison No. 4 for refusing to enlist in the army and refusing to wear the uniform.

Although being held in the isolation ward is not the same as solitary confinement, this ward is known for its history of wardens physically abusing prisoners.

Leonid Kressner declared his conscientious objection to military service long before he was drafted and was interviewed by the military Conscience Committee. The committee decided to reject Leonid's request to be exempted from military service because Leonid's father sent the Committee a letter in which he states that his son is willing to serve his country, but not by way of military service. The Committee claimed that Leonid's claim that he is a pacifist contradicts what is written in his father's letter. To be sure, Leonid never received any written document from the Committee stating its decision or giving the grounds for this decision. All the information in this paragraph is based on what Leonid reported the committee members told him in the course of the hearing.

On his day of enlistment, Leonid Kressner, being unfamiliar with his rights and with the tactics used by the army in such cases, went through the formal procedures of enlistment (the army's usual tactic in such cases is to lie to objectors, telling them that their request to attain exemption from military service is being treated, and that in the meanwhile they will have to go on with procedures as usual, or else their request will not be examined). After trying to exploit all the avenues at his disposal (including explaining his conscientious position to a military psychologist), Leonid decided to go AWOL (absence without leave). His aim in doing so was to bring his case before a military tribunal, which, he hoped, would direct him to another hearing with the Conscience Committee or to a hearing with an Unsuitability Committee, which would be able to exempt him from military service. Throughout this period Leonid consistently refused to receive or carry any sort of weapon.

After 35 days of absence from military service Leonid Kressner was arrested by military police at his home in the middle of the night. He was brought to Military Prison No. 6, where he was brought before a military officer for disciplinary trial. However, Leonid refused to be tried by this officer (an option reserved to all soldiers by law). His aim in doing so was to bring his case before a full tribunal. When soldiers refuse to be tried by an officer, their case is examined by the Military Attorney General's Office to decide whether or not to bring them before a tribunal. In Leonid Kressner's case, it was decided to release him altogether, making it clear to him that he will have to be absent from service for a longer period of time (thus making the offence for which he is charged graver) in order to appear before a military tribunal.

Leonid did indeed return to his home, where he remained until this Monday (15 Oct.), when, after 69 days of absence from military service, he reported at Military Prison No. 6. Later on that night his parents' home was visited by the military police.

On 16 October Leonid Kressner was transferred to Military Prison No. 4. Since he refused to wear military uniform, Leonid is being held in the prison's isolation ward, where there is always a danger that some of his basic rights as prisoner will be denied and that he will be physically mistreated by wardens.

Yesterday Leonid was brought before a tribunal on a preliminary hearing. It was decided to keep him in custody (although we do not know for how long). His trial will take place before a military tribunal in the near future.

Yair Halper declared on 17 October, before going to prison: "My name is Yair Halper and I am a conscientious objector to military service. On Wednesday the 17 October 2001, I will be incarcerated for my beliefs.

I consider myself a pacifist, and I am using that word only for the lack of a better one. I am only 18, still a child (at least in my eyes). I keep asking myself what the hell do I know about pacifism? My beliefs were never really tested. But still, "pacifist" is the closest word I could find to describe and define what I am.

As a pacifist I object to any army universally, no matter where it is, who operates it or what purposes it serves. Furthermore, I object to service in the Israel Defence Forces in particular for political reasons. I will never carry a weapon and I refuse to wear a uniform or any symbol that represents, or that will in any way label me, as part of the army.

I see the Israeli army as a mechanism that hosts everything I oppose in its ranks. Every soldier contributes in his/her way to the perpetuation of not only the complete disregard for Palestinian human rights, but also the continuing fortification and confirmation of Military Israel. The army brainwashes its soldiers to receive a brutal and inhumane mentality and makes the single soldier lose his/her individuality. I will not join a system that does not value human rights and that continues to rape, control and occupy the Palestinian territories.

As naive and cliched as it sounds, I know of only one way to live my life and that is by being true to myself, holding fast to my beliefs and principles and living by what they dictate to me.

Yes, I am willing and will be proud to sit in jail for what I see right.

As Dostoevsky said: "The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons" I would appreciate any support, be it by letters, phone calls or any way you see fit.

Peace!

Yair Halper."

War Resisters' International fears for the safety of Leonid Kressner and Yair Halper. Therefore War Resisters' International urges all peace and human rights activists and groups - and indeed everybody - to send letters of protest to the Israeli authorities (addresses below). War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Leonid Kressner and Yair Halper, and all other imprisoned COs.

Andreas Speck, War Resisters' International

Write to Leonid Kressner and Yair Halper:

Leonid Kressner Military ID 7156547 Military Prison No. 4, Military postal number 02507, IDF Israel.

Yair Halper Military ID 7237405 Military Prison No. 4, Military postal number 02507, IDF Israel.

ADDRESSES:

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

Military Attorney General, Military postal number 9605, IDF, Israel. Fax: +972-3-569-43-70

Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, IDF Chief of Staff, Ha-Qirya, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Fax: +972-3-569-55-94

Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Prime Ministers' Office, Qiriat David Ben-Gurion Jerusalem, Israel. e-mail: webmaster@pmo.gov.il Fax: +972-2-566-48-38 / +972-2-651-26-31

Addresses of Israeli media:


  • Ma'ariv: 2 Karlibach st. Tel-Aviv 67132 Israel Fax: +972-3-561-06-14 e-mail: editor@maariv.co.il

  • Yedioth Aharonoth: 2 Moses st. Tel-Aviv Israel Fax: +972-3-608-25-46

  • Ha'aretz (Hebrew): 21 Schocken st. Tel-Aviv, 61001 Israel Fax: +972-3-681-00-12

  • Ha'aretz (English edition): 21 Schocken st. Tel-Aviv, 61001 Israel Fax: +972-3-512-11-56 e-mail: letters@haaretz.co.il

  • Jerusalem Post: POB 81 Jerusalem 91000 Israel Fax: +972-2-538-95-27 e-mail: news@jpost.co.il or letters@jpost.co.il

  • Jerusalem Report: Fax: +972-2-537-94-89

  • Radio (fax numbers): Kol-Israel +972-2-531-33-15 and +972-3-694-47-09 Galei Tzahal +972-3-512-67-20

  • Television (fax numbers): Channel 1 +972-2-530-15-36 Channel 2 +972-2-533-98-09

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