fw: Another court martial TODAY: Haggai Matar / Uri Ya'acobi suddenly discharged

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

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From: "Parents Forum" <liveletlive2001 at yahoo.com>
Date sent: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 10:46:22 +0200

  The army seems to be in disarray over the question of court-martialing draft 
resisters and is seen to be changing tactics overnight:

  Today (Wed., 26/2/03) at 2.30, refusnik Haggai Matar will be brought for a 
preliminary hearing to the Jaffa Military Court (91-93 Yefet St., Corner of 
Shivtey Yisrael), at the start of a court-martial where he faces up to three 
years in prison. This, after he has spent a total of 133 days behind bars 
already, in six installments of 28 or 35 days each. He is defended by Adv. 
Dov Hinin.

  Today's court session comes upon the heels of yesterday's good news: 
CO Uri Ya'akobi, who also faced a court martial, was suddenly brought 
before the army's "Incompatiblity Committee" at the Induction Center in Tel 
Hashomer and immediately discharged from the army, after spending 160 
days behind bars. 

  According to an article published yesterday on Y-net (Yediot Aharonot's 
rather independent website), the simultaneous release of Uri and court-
martialling of Haggai are part of deliberate new policy of "divide and rule" in 
which the most severe treatment is reserved for the so-called "political 
refusers", i.e. those who are not opposed to all military service but "only" to 
serving in an army of occupation. (Haggai Matar is prime example of these.)
  There exists the twisted concept that refusing to serve the occupation is 
not a matter of conscience whereas pacifism (though hitherto never 
recognized!) would be.

  Meanwhile, Dror Boymel - whose court martial was suspended - is at 
home awaiting to appear again for the "Conscience Committee"
  On the other hand, Yoni Ben-Artzi, also an outspoken pacifist, is awaiting 
his court martial in an army base, where he is held in "open imprisonment". 

For letters of protest:
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz <sar at mod.gov.il>
Spokesperson Defense Ministry <info at mail.idf.il>

For letters of support:
To Haggai Mataar
"Anat Matar" <matar at post.tau.ac.il>

To Yoni Ben Artzi
Matania Ben-Artzi <mbartzi at yahoo.com>