From Gush Shalom circular:
The two longest-serving imprisoned CO’s, Yonathan Ben-Artzi and Uri Ya’akoby, were informed a week ago that they would be interviewed by a military commission – which had been the way out of the army for many previous CO’s. This morning – a day before the appointed time – they were informed that the interview had been cancelled, with no reason given. The two therefore, now face a seventh term, which may be followed by an eighth and a ninth, in effect an indefinite imprisonment, stretched out in installments of 28 to 35 days each. The present 18-year olds have the bad lack to come of age in a period of increased oppressiveness and intolerance. The refusniks are actually the “frontline soldiers” of the struggle for peace and deserve our support. There is something important which you can do now, straight from your computer.
The fact that Ben Artzi and Ya’akobi were first promised access to the comission and then denied it may indicate divisions and hesitations within the military and political establishment. Therefore, it may be effective to let the army get as many protests as possible between now and Sunday (Jan. 5), when Ya’akobi is likely to face a new order to enlist and a new trial for his refusal.
We urge you to send protests to Colonel Deborah Chassid, commander of the army’s Induction Center at Tel Hashomer – who on previous occasions was directly responsible for the CO’s “instant trials” (held in camera without lawyers or witnesses). You can you use the sample letter or compose your own.
Deborah Chassid
Commander of Induction Base, Tel-Hashomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.
Fax: +972-3-7376052
Copies of appeals in can also be sent to: > Head of Incompatibles Unit
Induction Base (Baqum)
Tel-Hashomer
Fax: +972-3-737-67-05.
You can use the following sample or make your own text:
To:
Deborah Chassid
Commander of Induction Base, Tel-Hashomer
Dear Madam
We got the worrying news that the invitiation to Yoni Be-Artzi and Uri Ya’acobi – to appear before the Incompatibility Commission – was withdrawn.
Over the past months, you and your subordinate officers have condemned young conscientious objectors to repeated terms of imprisonment. I urge you to allow them, after 100 days or more, to see at last the commission, which in the past provided discharge for conscientious objectors. There is no justice to keeping serious youngsters behind bars indefinitely. No amount of imprisonment will convince them to change their deeply held convictions, for which several of them were already recognized as Prisoners of Conscience by Amnesty International.
[You might want to add a line that this imprisonment violates international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.]
The four longest serving COs:
Yonathan Ben Artzi, 6th sentence, total of 161 days imprisonment;
Uri Yaakobi – 6th sentence, total: 133 days imprisonment;
Dror Boimel – 5th sentence, total: 119 days imprisonment;
Yoni Yehezkiel 4th sentence, total: 98 days imprisonment.
[your name / profession / address]