Israele: More refuseniks have been jailed doorgestuurd door welschen@tiscalinet.it - 30.05.2002 12:37
Yesh Gvul ("There is a limit !") is an Israeli peace group that has shouldered the task of supporting soldiers who refuse assignments of a repressive or aggressive nature. The brutal role of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in subjugating the Palestinian population places numerous servicemen in a grave moral and political dilemma, as they are required to enforce policies they deem illegal and immoral. The army hierarchy demands compliance, but many soldiers, whether conscripts or reservists, find that they cannot in good conscience obey the orders of their superiors. The following refuseniks have been jailed: First Sgt. (res.) Danny Eizer, sentenced on May 26 to 7 days in Mil. Prison 6; First Sgt. (res.) Avner Michaeli, sentenced on May 26 to 28 days in Mil. Prison 6; First Sgt. (res.) Erez Zweiling, sentenced on May 26 to 35 days in Mil. Prison 4. Saturday´s jail vigil attracted the usual large crowd to the hill overlooking Athlit. The protest was organised by Yesh Gvul, but also present were significant contingents from other sections of the "refusal community" - Ometz Le´Sarev and the shministim (high school students). The prisoners responded to our calls with energetic waves of towels, evidently heartened by our presence. We should do this more often ! Is anyone willing to organise a WEEKLY vigil ? Photos of the vigil are at www.yesh-gvul.org, which also features our refusal declaration, with signatories and room for new signatures. And a further urgent appeal: in the past two months, our family support fund ("Keren Yesh Gvul") has paid out to dependents of 24 jailed refuseniks no less than 76,000 NIS (= $16,000). This aid is a commitment we have undertaken willingly as part of our duty to stand by the refuseniks, but it is an enormous drain on our finances, and we´re in immediate need of funds to replenish the kitty. Contributions (marked for "Keren Yesh Gvul") can be sent to: Yesh Gvul, PO Box 6953, Jerusalem 91068, Israel. YESH GVUL WORLDWIDE: Eyal and Tali are back from storming Japan, Ram and Ishai are on the final leg of their speaking tour across the US, Dan Tamir continues to rampage throughout Central Europe. Now, to friends and sympathisers in Holland and nearby: our colleague Ofer Golani will be in Holland throughout July and August, and is available for speaking engagements. You can contact him at gonoam@bezeqint.net (please cc. us !). Regardless of the coming summer vacations, we continue efforts to set up tours of the US, Italy, Sweden-Norway-Denmark. Interested groups: please make contact. Best wishes, Peretz Kidron http://www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org/index.htm http://www.jppi.org/links.html E-Mail: cherryk@zahav.net.il |