Recent CO Action alerts

War Resisters' International was informed today that Sharon Shmila, one of the signatories of the 'letters of officers', was imprisoned and sentenced to 28 days. He is the third of the signatories who is imprisoned for his refusal to serve in the Occupied Territories (see http://www.seruv.org.il/SignersInJaileng.asp). Sharon Shmila, 29, married and father of a 10 months old baby girl, serves as an officer in an infantry unit. Before his recent round of service he asked to be reassigned to a location outside of the territories.

War Resisters' International learned today that Amit Gal, on of the signatories of the 'Letters of the Officers' (see www.seruv.org.il), has been sentenced to 28 days in prison for refusing to perform reserve services in the occupied Gaza Strip yesterday.
Amit Gal is the first among the signatories of this famous letter to be imprisoned since the letter was published - but several of the signatories already spent time in prison before the letter was made public.

Conscientious objector Haggai Regev (ISR11918) was transferred to a small detention center close to Haifa last week. His new address is:

Haggai Regev
Mil. Personal No. 5218163
c/o Rasar Office
Military Postal No. 02229
IDF, Israel.

Please continue sending him letters of support.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International

War Resisters' International was informed today, that two new conscientious objectors were imprisoned in Israel.

First Seg. (res.) Haggai Regev (25) was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories - although his objection is to military service in principle. Haggai serves in the airforce reserve, and was detached for duty near Jericho. He is held at Military Prison no 6 (Athlit). Support messages can be sent to:

Haggai Regev
Military personal No. 5218163
Military Prison No. 6
Military postal code 03734, IDF
Israel

Today conscientious objector Marino Keckeis began a hunger strike, demanding civilian service instead of prison. Marino Keckeis declared his conscientious objection in March 1996, and applied for civilian service on February 1997. However, his application was turned down, and he was called up for military service in February 1999. He didn't follow his call-up, and was subsequently sentenced to five months imprisonment on 18 December 2001. On 15 January 2002, Marino Keckeis started his prison sentence in Luzern.

Yesterday, on 17 January 2002, Sharon Karpol, 29, from Kibutz Dalia, was sentenced to 14 days in military prison no 6 for not reporting to his reserve unit two days earlier. He had notified his unit in advance about his move. Sharon Karpol served in a combat unit as a conscript. He currently opposes most forms of service in the IDF because of its policy in the Occupied Territories. Sharon Karpol is willing to do only rescue and humanitarian aid work as a reservist, and definitely refuses to bear arms or serve in the Occupied Territories.

As WRI learned today, conscientious objector Yair Khilou (ISR11763) was transferred to Military Prison No 6 last Tuesday. His new prison address is:

Yair Khilou
Military ID 7274070
Military Prison No 6
Military postal number 03734
IDF
Israel

Please continue sending letters of support to him.

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

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.

War Resisters' International was informed that six more refuseniks have been jailed in Israel during the weekend. There is not much information yet, but we keep you informed.

Lieut. (res.) Timor Yisraeli (ISR11978) of the armoured corps has been sentenced to 28 days for refusal. Yisraeli, a student of theatre, is a signatory of the "Courage to Refuse" declaration.

Sgt. (res.) Oded L. (ISR11979 - at his request, we are withholding his name) of Rehovot, has been sentenced to 35 days' detention.

War Resisters' International was informed today that Finish total objector Andras Lahdelma, a 20-years old student from Jyväskylä, started to serve his 77-days long prison sentence on 23th of January. He had completed 8 months of his 13-months long civilian service before he interrupted it last May.

He considers himself as a pasifist and he didn´t want to fulfil civilian service because its duration is perceived as a punishment and it is very poorly organised.

War Resisters' International learned about two conscientious objectors who were imprisoned in Israel recently. Lieut. (res.) Omry Yeshurun (26) (ISR11873), of Kibbutz Yagur, was sentenced on 22 January to 28 days in Military Prison no 6, for failing to report for service in Tul Karem with his armour unit. Omry Yeshurun, a 3rd year student of electrical engineering at the Technion in Haifa, notified his unit months ahead that he would not report for service in the territories.

War Resisters' International learned today that conscientious objector Rennan Amin Salameh is charged with desertion, carrying a possible prison sentence of 18 months. His hearing was on 17 January 2002. As a Druse, he may well face an exceptionally long prison sentence.

War Resisters' International therefore strongly urges everybody to send letters of support to Rennan Amin Salameh:

Rennan Amin Salameh
Military ID 6371684
Military Prison No. 4
Military postal code 02507
IDF
Israel

War Resisters' International was informed over the weekend that two new conscientious objectors were imprisoned.

Since the beginning of the year 2002, three conscientious objectors were imprisoned in Israel, bringing the total number up to seven imprisoned objectors.
Eran Razgour (ISR11612) was tried today and received a sentence of 21 days in prison after the military Conscience Committee has refused to release him from the army. Eran Razgour already spent 42 days in prison between 28 October and 4 December 2001 (ISR11612-301001). He refuses to serve in the Israeli military on moral and political grounds. He is presently held in Military Prison no 4.

Eran Razgour
Military ID Number 7118061

War Resisters' International learned today that conscientious objector Yair Halper was again sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for refusing to enlist in the army, after he finished his second prison term on 9 December. Apart from two weekend vacations, Yair Halper has been held in prison since 17 October.

War Resisters' International was informed today by the Israeli organisation New Profile, that conscientious objector Omer Herrera, 26, was sentenced yesterday (2 December) to 14 days imprisonment. Omer Herrera, a student from the town of Beer-Sheva and an immigrant from Guatemala, was only now called up to perform regular military service, because he immigrated to Israel at the age of 22. He is held in Military Prison No. 4 in Tzrifin. Omer Herrera's objection to military service is grounded in his own experiences, and those of his family in Guatemala.