[GushShalom] Ominous year's end / Action requested re imprisoned COs

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

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     Gush Shalom
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Dec. 31, 2002 - five minutes to twelve

International release

[] Ominous year's end 
   Banning of Arab Knesset Members /  Random brutality in Hebron
[] Immediate action requested re imprisoned COs

[] Ominous year's end 
   Banning of Arab Knesset Members /  Random brutality in Hebron

- Tonight, the Central Elections Committee is on its way to ban Knesset Member Azmi Bishara 
and his Balad Party - one of the three main parties active among Israel's Arab citizens - from 
running in the current elections. The decision is based on "evidence" provided by spies and 
agent provocateurs of the Israeli Security Services - evidence whose veracity was in no way 
checked in these proceedings. 
- This followed upon the same comittee banning Knesset  Member Ahmed Tibi and the 
conspicious non-banning of the notorious racist Baruch Marzel, an outspoken advocate of the 
wholesale expulsion of Palestinians. Unless these scandalous decisions are overturned by the 
Supreme Court, it would mean that Israel's Araab citizens would lose much of the (always 
limited) political rights they had, while anti-Arab racists are given a free run of the Israeli 
political system. It could also mean a large-scale abstention by Arab voters in the the January 
28 elections, which would of course leave no further doubt of  Sharon's re-election.  
- On the same day, we got from Palestinian friends in Hebron a gruesome tale of a 18-yeaar old 
youth being taken for "a ride" on an Israeli police jeep, from which his horribly battered dead 
body was thrown two hours later. The B'tselem human rights organization, which started 
investigating the case, got the clear idea that it was a case of random brutalit. 
- Also today: the decision to deport from Israel the internationally-known British activist Angie 
Zelser, declared by Judge Ruth Eliaz to be "a danger to the state" - as it seems for no other 
reason then her humanitarian work among  Palestinians, especially helping in the olive harvest 
in groves threatened by settlers. 

[] Immediate action requested re imprisoned COs

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. This Saturday, there will be a Yesh Gvul 
demonstration in Athlit*, but 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 politicasl establishment. 
Therefore, it may be effective to let the army get AS MANY PROTESTS AS POSSIBLE 
BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT SUNDAY (Jan. 5), when Ya'akobi is likely to face a new order to 
enlist and a new trial for his refusal.  We ask 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.

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]


*Meeting: 
Bet Oren junction, old Haifa-Hedera highway - 12:30
Transportation: 
Jerusalem (Binyanei Haumma) 10:00
Tel Aviv (Arlozoroff/Namir) 11:15
Contact: Peretz Kidron" <cherryk at zahav.net.il>


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