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RSN builds support for, seeks to increase the visibility of, and educates the public about the Israeli refuser movements, with the objective of working together with refusers to end Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

News Updates

Conscientious objector Omar Saad sentenced to prison for the 5th time
3/5/2014

Conscientious objector Omar Saad sentenced to prison for the

oren ziv/activestills

fifth time for his refusal to join the Israeli Army.

Omar Saad, 18 years old from Mghar, a village in the Galil, arrived, Sunday 2.3.2014, to the Induction Base in Tal Hashomer where he declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army. Omar was sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No. 6 near Atlit.

We also want to inform you that it has come to our attention that civilian lawyers, including lawyers from New Profile, are no longer allowed to visit Omar and other objectors, during his incarcerations in military prisons. The army claims that civilian lawyers are not certified to enter military prisons. We have appealed to Adalah (www.adalah.org/eng) to help us protest the issue.

 

Omar is a young guy belonging to the Palestinian Arab Druze community. This community, in contrast to Arab society in large, was the target of a decision by Prime Minister Ben Gurion in 1956 that forced them to serve in the Israeli army. following this decision, mobilization orders were sent to all Druze citizens in deployment age. That decision was faced with serious resistance from the Druze community for many reasons. The main reasons were: refusing to fight against their own people and demanding to be treated just like the rest of the Palestinian Arab society in Israel. (* To read more on this issue follow the reference below).

 

 

After being sentenced for the fifth time, Omar issued a public statement, as follows:

"I, the undersigned Omar Zaher Aldeen Saad , conceded myself to the Israeli Army authorities two months ago, determined to my rejection to do the Israeli military service.

I have been ruled 3 times in prison, and each time for 20 days, and today was sentenced for the fifth time and in retaliation decision for another 20 days.

Since one year and a half, I declared my refusal to conscription law imposed on the people of the Druze community, and I refuse to serve in the Israeli army, through a letter sent to Israel's Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and until today I have not received any reply.


I declare it again and loudly: I am Omar Saad Zaher Aldeen I refuse to serve in the Israeli military army and I demand the respect for my faith and not to be obliged to do things that contradict with my conscience and principles.

I want my freedom.

Omar Zaher Aldeen Saad"


In his refusal decleration from 26/10/2012, Omar Saad wrote:

"I refuse that because I am pacifist, and I hate any kind of violence, and I believe that the army institute is the top of physical and psychological violence, and since I received your order for making the checking procedures my life changed completely. I became very nervous and my thoughts were dispersed. I remembered thousands of hard images, and I could not imagine myself wearing the military uniform andparticipating in suppressing my Palestinian people, and fighting my Arab brothers. I reject enlisting to the Israeli army or to any other army, because of national and moral reasons. I hate oppression, and I reject occupation."


You can read the full declaration here.


You can find more news items re Saad's imprisonment and Druze Refuse here and here and here and here.

Regardin the issue you can also watch a video by the Arab Druze group against military servise.

 

His prison address is:

Omar Saad
Military ID 08143090

Military Prison No. 6

Military Postal Code 01860, IDF

Israel
Fax: ++972-4-9540580

Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned objectors, we also recommend you to send them your letters of support and encouragement via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org (hitting “reply all” to this message will send the message to the same address), and they will be printed out and delivered during visits.



Recommended Action

First of all, please circulate this message and the information contained in it as widely as possible, not only through e-mail, but also on websites, social networks, conventional media, by word of mouth, etc.

Other recommendations for action:


1. Sending Letters of Support

Please send Omar letters of support to the prison address above and via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org


2. Letters to Authorities

It is recommended to send letters of protest on the objectors’ behalf, preferably by fax, to:

Mr. Moshe Ya'alon,

Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,

Hakirya,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
E-mail: s...@mod.gov.il or pniot@mod.gov.il

Tel.: ++972-3-6975220
Fax: ++972-3-6962757

Copies of your letters can also be sent to the commander of the military prison at:

Commander of Military Prison No. 6,
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-4-9540580

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

Denny Efroni,
Chief Military Attorney
Military postal code 9605, IDF

Israel
Fax: ++972-3-569-45-26

It would be especially useful to send your appeals to the Commander of the Induction Base in Tel-HaShomer. It is this officer that ultimately decides whether an objector is to be exempted from military service or sent to another round in prison, and it is the same officer who is ultimately in charge of the military Conscience Committee:

Gil Ben Shaul,
Commander of Induction Base,

Meitav, Tel-HaShomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-737-60-52

For those of you who live outside Israel, it would be very effective to send protests to your local Israeli embassy. You can find the address of your local embassy on the web.

Here is a generic sample letter, which you can use in sending appeals to authorities on the prisoners’ behalf. Feel free to modify this letter or write your own:


Dear Sir/Madam,

It has come to my attention that Omar Saad (military ID 08143090), a conscientious objector to military service, has been imprisoned for the fifth time for his refusal to become part of the Israeli army, and is held in Military Prison no. 6 near Atlit.

The imprisonment of conscientious objectors such as Saad is a violation of international law, of basic human rights and of plain morals. The repeater imprisonment of conscientious objectors is an especially grave offence, as it means sentencing a person more than once for the same offence, and has been judged by th UN working Group on Arbitrary Detention to constitute a clear case arbitrary detention.

I therefore call for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of Omar Saad, without threat of further imprisonment in the future, and urge you and the system you are heading to respect the dignity and person of conscientious objectors, indeed of all persons, in the future.

Sincerely,

3. Letters to media in Israel and in other countries

Writing op-ed pieces and letters to editors of media in Israel and other countries could also be quite useful in indirectly but powerfully pressuring the military authorities to let go of the objectors and in bringing their plight and their cause to public attention. 

Here are some contact details for the main media outlets in Israel: 

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		 Israel Hayom:
2 Hashlosha st.
The B1 Building
Tel-Aviv
Israel
e-mail: hayom@israelhayom.co.il		 Jerusalem Post:
P.O. Box 81
Jerusalem 91000
Israel
Fax: +972-2-538-95-27

e-mail: news@jpost.co.il or letters@jpost.co.il
Radio (fax numbers):

Kol-Israel  +972-2-531-33-15

and  +972-3-694-47-09


Galei Zahal  +972-3-512-67-20		 Television (fax numbers):
Channel 1  +972-2-530-15-36

Channel 2  +972-2-533-98-09

Channel 10  +972-3-733-16-66

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

We will continue updating on further developments.

Thank you for your support,

 New Profil

Conscientious objector Eyal Yablonko sentenced to prison for the Second time for his refusal to join the Israeli Army.
July 29. 2013

Eyal Yablonko, 18.5 years old from Jaffa arrived, Monday 29.7.2013, to the Induction Base in Tal-hashomer, where he again declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army, he was sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No. 6 near Atlit.

His prison address is:

Eyal Yablonko
Military ID 205997406
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-4-9540580

Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned objectors, we also recommend you to send them your letters of support and encouragement via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org, and they will be printed out and delivered during visits.

Recommended Action

First of all, please circulate this message and the information contained in it as widely as possible, not only through e-mail, but also on websites, social networks, conventional media, by word of mouth, etc.

Other recommendations for action:

  1. Sending Letters of Support
    Please send Eyal letters of support to the prison address above and via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org

  2. Letters to Authorities
    It is recommended to send letters of protest on the objectors' behalf, preferably by fax, to:

    Mr. Moshe Ya'alon
    Ministry of Defence
    Hakirya
    Tel-Aviv 61909
    Israel
    Tel.: ++972-3-6975220
    Fax: ++972-3-6962757

    Copies of your letters can also be sent to the commander of the military prison at:

    Commander of Military Prison No. 6
    Military Prison No. 6
    Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
    Israel
    Fax: ++972-4-9540580

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

    Denny Efroni
    Chief Military Attorney
    Military postal code 9605, IDF
    Israel
    Fax: ++972-3-569-45-26

    It would be especially useful to send your appeals to the Commander of the Induction Base in Tel-HaShomer. It is this officer that ultimately decides whether an objector is to be exempted from military service or sent to another round in prison, and it is the same officer who is ultimately in charge of the military Conscience Committee:

    Gil Ben Shaul,
    Commander of Induction Base
    Meitav, Tel-HaShomer
    Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
    Israel
    Fax: ++972-3-737-60-52

    For those of you who live outside Israel, it would be very effective to send protests to your local Israeli embassy. You can find the address of your local embassy on the web.

    Here is a generic sample letter, which you can use in sending appeals to authorities on the prisoners'' behalf. Feel free to modify this letter or write your own:

    Dear Sir/Madam,

    It has come to my attention that Eyal Yablonko (military ID 205997406), a conscientious objector to military service, has been imprisoned for the Second time for his refusal to become part of the Israeli army, and is held in Military Prison no. 6 near Atlit.

    The imprisonment of conscientious objectors such as Yablonko is a violation of international law, of basic human rights and of plain morals. The repeater imprisonment of conscientious objectors is an especially grave offence, as it means sentencing a person more than once for the same offence, and has been judged by th UN working Group on Arbitrary Detention to constitute a clear case arbitrary detention.

    I therefore call for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of Eyal Yablonko, without threat of further imprisonment in the future, and urge you and the system you are heading to respect the dignity and person of conscientious objectors, indeed of all persons, in the future.

    Sincerely,

  3. Letters to media in Israel and in other countries
    Writing op-ed pieces and letters to editors of media in Israel and other countries could also be quite useful in indirectly but powerfully pressuring the military authorities to let go of the objectors and in bringing their plight and their cause to public attention.

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

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

Petition to support Natan Blanc
20 May, 2013

Last week Natan Blanc was sentenced to an additional 28 days to military prison. New Profile, along with Amnesty International, War Resisters International, Yesh Gvul, Gush Shalom, and Connection have initiated a petition. Presently the petition is in English and German.

Please select a link to sign:

English version
German version

Please circulate to your wider lists.

Conscientious objector Natan Blanc sentenced to prison
April 17, 2013

Conscientious objector Natan Blanc sentenced to prison for the Ninth time for his refusal to join the Israeli Army.

Natan Blanc, 19 years old from Haifa, arrived, Wednesday, 17.4.2013, to the Induction Base in Tal-hashomer, where he again declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army. In 18.4.2013 he was sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No. 6 near Atlit.

Read more here...
Natan Blanc imprisoned for the eighth time
April 4, 2013

Natan Blanc has been imprisoned for the eighth time

Conscientious objector Natan Blanc sentenced to prison for the eightt time for his refusal to join the Israeli Army.

Natan Blanc, 19 years old from Haifa arrived, Tuseday, 2.4.2013, to the Induction Base in Tal-hashomer, where he again declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army. he was sentenced to 14 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No. 6 near Atlit.

In his refusal declaration Natan Blanc wrote:

I began thinking about refusing to conscripted into the Israeli Army during the "Cast Lead" operation in 2008. The wave of aggressive militarism that swept the country then, the expressions of mutual hatred, and the vacuous talk about stamping out terror and creating a deterrent effect were the primary trigger for my refusal.

Today, after four years full of terror, without a political process [towards peace negotiations], and without quiet in Gaza and Sderot, it is clear that the Netanyahu Government, like that of his predecessor Olmert, is not interested in finding a solution to the existing situation, but rather in preserving it.

From their point of view, there is nothing wrong with our initiating a "Cast Lead" operation every three or four years (and then 3, 4,5 and 6): we will talk of deterrence, we will kill some terrorist, we will lose some civilians on both sides, and we will prepare the ground for a new generation full of hatred on both sides. As representatives of the people, members of the cabinet have no duty to present their vision for the futures of the country, and they can continue with this bloody cycle, with no end in sight.

But we, as citizens and human beings, have a moral duty to refuse to participate in this cynical game.

For more information see:
http://972mag.com/draft-resister-sent-back-to-prison-eight-sentences-130...
http://mondoweiss.net/2013/04/israeli-conscientious-objector.html
http://conscientiousobjectors.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/the-guardian-stor...

To military prison, instead of Gaza
November 19, 2012

Israeli Conscientious Objector Natan Blanc to be imprisoned this morning

Today, Monday November 19th, Natan Blanc, a 19 years old Israeli from old Haifa, will show up at the recruitment bureau, inform officers there of his refusal to serve in the IDF, and will likely be sent immediately to the military prison. His act of conscientious refusal is directly connected to the current situation and the army's acts in Gaza. He took this decision even before hearing the terrible news of five women and four children being killed today by a single Israeli Air Force bomb:

I began thinking about refusing to join the Israeli Army during the 'Cast Lead' operation in 2008. The wave of aggressive militarism that swept the country then, the expressions of mutual hatred, and the vacuous talk about stamping out terror and creating a deterrent effect were the primary trigger for my refusal.

Today, after four years full of terror, without a political process [towards peace negotiations], and without quiet in Gaza and Sderot, it is clear that the Netanyahu Government, like that of his predecessor Olmert, is not interested in finding a solution to the existing situation, but rather in preserving it. From their point of view, there is nothing wrong with our initiating a 'Cast Lead 2' operation every three or four years (and then 3, 4,5 and 6): we will talk of deterrence, we will kill some terrorist, we will lose some civilians on both sides, and we will prepare the ground for a new generation full of hatred on both sides.

As representatives of the people, members of the cabinet have no duty to present their vision for the futures of the country, and they can continue with this bloody cycle, with no end in sight. But we, as citizens and human beings, have a moral duty to refuse to participate in this cynical game. That is why I have decided to refuse to be inducted into the Israeli Army on the date of my call-up order, November 19, 2012.

—Natan Blanc

Peretz Kidron Memorial
November 11, 2012

Dear Friend,

On Friday 9/11 at 15:00 we will assemble at the Kiryat Anavim cemetery to commemorate one year since Peretz Kidron's passing. Peretz was a dedicated peace and human rights activist, and a veteran member of Yesh Gvul.
Afterward we will meet at the Bustan Abu Gosh restaurant.

Please see these links for more info on Peretz, a dedicated peace and human rights activist: Facebook Page

Best Wishes
Yesh Gvul

Read more here...
Group of J14 activists to refuse their military reserve duty
July 16, 2012

We received this email update from Ruth Hiller, of New Profile:

Dear Friends,
I hope all is well with you.
I don't know how many of you are following the newest wave of social protest going on in Israel. Saturday, July 14th marked a year since it began, and demonstrations were held in most of the larger cities in Israel. During the demonstration that took place in Tel Aviv, Moshe Silman, a social activist from Haifa, who is unemployed and homeless, read a letter that he wrote to the government having been refused social benefits and rent assistance several times, and set himself on fire. The act in itself is horrific and sad. Moshe has burns on 96% of his body, is in a medically induced coma and is being ventilated. This is a tragedy for his family and for Israel, as so much could have been done to help him so that he would not have to reach this level of extreme desperation.

The discussion of why Moshe Silman and why he did what he did is very today's discussion all over Israel. Here is a man who once owned his own small trucking business and an apartment. But due to debts incurred to the National Insurance Institute (our Social Security system), he had to claim bankruptcy and also lost his home. Additionally he then suffered a series of small strokes and was unable to seek employment. From here everything was then downhill for he and in spite of the many applications for financial aid, he was deemed ineligible. Moshe Silman's sister gave several TV and radio interviews and shared with the Israeli public how he used to be a very proud man and how his sense of pride was beaten.

Other people in Israel have committed suicide, leaving testimonies of great shame in their inability to maintain their households and support their families. But for them it is a very private matter. In any event it is difficult for me to comprehend the choice of taking one's life to prove a point. At the same time while it is not my place to criticize the act, I also can't rationalize and call Moshe Silman a social justice hero. I would not want others, who have reached similar levels of desperation, to take their lives. (Just this morning a man tried to set himself on fire before the National Insurance Institute offices in Be'er Sheva, but was stopped on time by a security guard.) Moshe is not one case, and there are many other Israeli citizens, from all the ethnic sectors, who are experiencing the same systematic red tape treatment by governmental offices. However the social movement has been consistent in one aspect from the get go, and has kept matters of social services, affordable medical services, and affordable housing high up on the agenda.

Now Haggai Matar, a colleague and fellow activist in New Profile, writes about an new phenomena within the Israel social protest - conscientious objection in protest of neo-liberalism and the lack of social justice. I think you will find the article in the link below, which appeared earlier today on the online magazine +972, of much interest.
Thanks and all the best,
Ruth

Read more here...
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