Requests for support and solidarity from Gush
Shalom
[1] Conscientious Objector Leonid Krassner sentenced severely for his
beliefs.
[2] Humantiarian and social activist Dr Maslamani put behind bars
[3] Letter to the State Attorney against relegalization of torture
[4] Refugees - talks, readings and testimonies
[5] Compensation for settlers now - Gush ad of the week
[1] Conscientious Objector Leonid Krassner sentenced severely for his beliefs.
[The following was compiled from two different messages received from Sergeiy Sandler of New Profile, respectively on Nov. 28 and 29.]
Leonid Krassner, a 19-year-old pacifist, was sentenced this Tuesday to four and a half months of imprisonment for his conscientious objection to military service. This is an exceptional sentence for the offence that Leonid was charged with. Normally, a person in a similar position would receive a sentence of two months or 70 days in prison at the most. We have reason to believe that the length of this sentence is part of an overall pattern of discrimination in the military judiciary system against immigrants. Krassner?s advocates intend to appeal the sentence. For his part, the military judge indicated in his sentence that the exceptionally severe punishment is given to Leonid Krassner because of his beliefs.
Since his arrest on 15 October, Leonid has been held in isolation, most of this time in solitary confinement, because he refuses to wear a military uniform in prison. He has also been regularly denied phone calls to his family and has been denied two family visits. His parents expressed great concern for Leonid?s condition.
New Profile - Movement for the Civil-ization of Israeli Society calls upon the military authorities of Israel to respect international law and basic human rights and to release Leonid Krassner immediately and unconditionally from prison.
Two actions are necessary in this situation:
a. Please write letters and postcards of support to Leonid Kressner. He is in need of your support.
His prison address is:
Leonid Kressner
Military ID 7156547
Military Prison No. 6,MBR>
Military postal number 03734,
IDF
Israel.
but note that there is a possibility that the prison authorities will deny him access to his mail. To make sure he receives your letters, please send a copy of them to us via e-mail or ground mail:
New Profile
P.O.Box 48005
Tel-Aviv 61480
Israel
mailto:NewProfile@speedy.co.il
b. Please write (preferrably by fax) to the commander of Military Prison No. 6, to the Military Attorney General and to the Minister of Defence, making the following points:
1. Demanding that Leonid Kressner be immediately taken out of solitary confinement.
2. Protesting the exceptionally long prison sentence given to Leonid
3. Calling for Leonid's immediate and unconditional release from prison as a prisoner of conscience.
The relevant addresses are:
Commander of Military Prison No. 6,
Military Prison No. 6,
Military postal number 03734,
IDF
Israel.
FAX: ++972-4-869-28-84
Military Attorney General,
Military postal number 9605, IDF,
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-569-43-70
Mr. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer,
Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
37 Kaplan st.,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
e-mail: mailto:sar@mod.gov.il or
mailto:pniot@mod.gov.il
Fax: ++972-3-696-27-57 / ++972-3-691-69-40 / ++972-3-691-79-15
Additional addresses of authorities and media are available at:
http://www.newprofile.org/english/news.html#addresses
Again, please circulate this message as widely as possible, as this case requires rapid and massive intervention.
Thank you very much for your attention and action,
[2] Humantiarian and social activist Dr Maslamani put behind bars
[excerpted from a 29 Nov. Public Committee Against Torture communique]
Urgent Appeal
[3] Letter to the State Attorney against re-legalization of torture
[received from Physicians for Human Rights, Nov.27.]
Dear Attorney Arbel,
I am writing to you in response to the comments you made at the conference
of the Public Law Association. According to the press reports, you expressed
support for the reinstitution of the use of torture in the interrogation
of Palestinians by the GSS. You also argued that the new reality facing
the world after the attacks in the United States offers an opportunity
for the GSS to free itself from the constraints imposed by the Supreme
Court in the verdict on the subject of the shaking of detainees.
I was deeply disturbed to learn that the State Attorney - one of the
most senior functions in the Israeli law enforcement system - supports
the use of torture in interrogations. This is contrary to numerous international
conventions, particularly the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN, 1984).
In addition to the legal context - which, as noted, prohibits the use
of torture regardless of the circumstances - Physicians for Human Rights,
as an organization devoted to medical human rights, is profoundly shocked
by the willingness of any individual, and particularly of someone in your
position, to acquiesce to the physical and mental injury of humans by any
governmental authority.
I fear that your comments reflect a misunderstanding of the role of
the law enforcement system as a counterweight to the security forces. Many
governments, and certainly the governments of occupying states, employ
prohibited methods and violate human rights. In other liberal democracies,
however, the law enforcement system serves to counterbalance the influence
of security bodies, protecting the dignity and rights of citizens. It would
seem that Israel?s protracted occupation has led to a blurring of this
balance by all the authorities in Israel, including the judiciary system.
The judges of the Supreme Court have freed Israel from the blemish of
torture, at least officially. I beg you to do all that is in your power
to ensure that this blemish is not reinstated.
Sincerely,
[4] Refugees - talks, readings and testimonies
[Received, 29 Nov. from "Hakampus Lo Shotek" (Tel-Aviv University students
and lecturers against silence)]
Next Monday, December 3rd, 18:00, Gilman 144, Tel Aviv University, we
will hold
TESTIMONIES 5: "HAGERUSH" (The Expulsion)
on the refugees - including talks, readings and testimonies by Saleh
Abdel Jawad, Dov Yirmiyah, Adi Tal, Sandy Kedar, Salim Tamari, Gadi Algazi,
and a representative of the Arab Student Union. From 17:00 there will be
a book stand at the entrance to the hall.
Please come.
H A K A M P U S L O S H O T E K
[5] Gush Shalom ad published in Ha'aretz, Nov. 30
THE TRAP
The Zinni team speaks with Sharon about one subject only: the settlements.
It is quite clear now: the government is undermining the effort to renew
negotiations, and consciously sabotages all chances for peace, for the
sole purpose of keeping the settlements in place.
Much blood is being spilled for this purpose, while dozens of industrial
enterprises, which were established in the settlement areas, are facing
facts and leaving for Israel.
Undoubtedly, many of the settlers would like to do the same, but are
prevented by economic reasons from doing so. They are caught in a trap.
The government must pay them fair compensations, in order to enable
them to come home and build a new life.
Gush Shalom,
Sergeiy Sandler - New Profile.
Health and social welfare worker Dr. Ahmad Maslamani, 43, married and
father of three, was arrested on Monday, November 19, 2001 in Beit-Hanina,
Jerusalem and is in detention in the Russian Compound detention center
since then. Dr. Maslamani is the director of the Union of Health Work Committees
in Palestine and is well-known for his involvement in providing medical
services to Palestinian Children and women in the remote and under siege
areas. The Public Committee against Torture in Israel (PCATI) condemns
the detention of Dr. Ahmad Maslamani that lasts already for more than ten
days and demands his immediate release. PCATI calls upon all who care for
human rights to condemn the detention and demand his immediate release.
PCATI
Tomer Feffer Executive Director
Anat Biletzki
Help us with donations to
P.O.Box 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033,
Phone 972-3-5221732.
www.gush-shalom.org
info@gush-shalom.org