Originally, Ben Artzi gained media interest especially due to the piquant fact of being the nephew of Foreign Minister Netanyahu. But by now, he had
gained a considerable reputation in his own right - a principled pacifist CO, who had already served without flinching a total of 200 days' imprisonment, in seven 28-day and 35-day installments.

The latest development, leading Ben Artzi to the Court Martial which is empowered to hand down a maximum of three years for his refusal to enlist, started exactly a week ago, when he was taken from his prison cell t! o a meeting with a Brigadier General at General Staff Headquarters in Tel-Aviv. This personage went out of his way to appear friendly ("I am not talking to you as a general to a draftee, but as Avi to Yoni, okay?") and made what was supposed to be "a generous offer": Ben Artzi would consent to be enlisted and have the legal status of a soldier, and in return the army would grant him "an easy service, without a gun, uniform or military training". Ben Artzi was given a few days to consider this offer, but in fact his response had never been in doubt: he is willing and ready to give three years for doing useful service to the benefit of Israeli society - but only in a civilian framework having nothing to do with the army; he is absolutely unwilling to be part, in any capacity whatsoever, of an army, an organization whose main aim is killing and violence; not of any army, in general, and certainly not of an army of occupation e! ngaged in large-scale brutal oppression of another people.

Upon informing the authorities of his decision, Ben Artzi was informed in turn that he would face a court martial, empowered to sentence him to up to three years. Also, from that moment on he was subjected to a series of petty humiliations, never before experienced during his previous imprisonments: being handcuffed whenever taken from one place to another (though he has never shown any inclination to run away); being held in a cell without any furniture, so that he had to sit on the floor; being given food without utensils...

Three days of that were the prelude to yesterday's hearing, on the issue of whether or not Ben Artzi should be remanded in custody until the end of the court martial. The prosecutor went out of his way to be nasty, describing Ben Artzi as "no better than any deserter or drug addict". He was no pacifist, since "the competent military committee has already reviewed his case" and decided he was! not [One of the reasons for the verdict was that Yoni had argued, and pacifists—according to the committee--do not argue.Dorothy] He must be kept continually in prison, for the sake of "deterrence", since letting him go free until the court martial renders its verdict would "undermine discipline in the army".

Ben Artzi's lawyer, Adv. Michael Sfard from the office of the renowned human rights lawyer Avigdor Feldman, rebutted these arguments, stating that the "competent committee" was composed of military officers with no knowledge of or interest in pacifist principles, that they were rejecting virtually any claimant who appeared before them, and that Yoni Ben Artzi was "the classical, clear-cut case of a principled pacifist: a person who already chose pacifism and non-violence as the subject of his elementary school essays, who in school refused to attend a judo class since that involved using force, and who in the years before his con! scription date had boned up on the history and philosophy o! f pacifism - for which he had two testimonies of university professors. Further, Adv. Sfard dismissed the prosecution's claim of "undermined discipline" as frivolous and vindictive. After several hours of often acrimonious debate, a compromise was hammered out: pending the end of the court martial Ben Artzi would stay neither at home nor in prison, but in "open detention" at the army's Induction Center. There was still a further debate on whether or not the prisoner would be allowed to spend the night in his parents' home, for what may be the last occasion in a very long while. The prosecutor, in another display of conspicuous narrow-mindedness, fiercely opposed it. In the end, the judge, who seemed more fair-minded, granted that small boon.

This morning, Ben Artzi presented himself at the induction center for the beginning of "the open detention". There had been a new confrontation with a lieutenant-colonel who once aga! in demanded that he enlist and threatened "the stockade"; upon Ben Artzi's continuing firm refusal, the colonel talked with his superiors and backed off - at least for the moment.

 

So Yoni is, at the moment on 'open detention', which is the army's equivalent of house detention. During this period he is not considered to have made an offence, so he is not treated as a prisoner.

 

Dror Boymel:

 
In Dror's case there have also been many developments:

 

Only hours after petitioning the Supreme Court on behalf of CO Dror Boymel, Boymel has been sent by the military authorities to Military prison-4 to await Court Martial in detention ("maazar lifnei mishpat"). Dror has already served 6 prison terms for refusal of military service on pacifist grounds, altogether 168 days.
On this morning (Friday, Feb.21) at 9:00a, Boymel will be brought for a preliminary hearing before the Jaffa Military Court- just like Yoni Ben Artzi three days earlier.

ACRI (association for human rights in Israel) lawyer Avner Pinchuck who defended Dror Boymel Thursday in the Supreme Court will be there, but since he is&! nbsp; not authorized to appear before a military court, Boymel willthis time be defended by another ACRI lawyer. Soon after that a deal was reached with Dror: he agreed to go once and again and face the "conscience committee" for the second time. The same committee that denied the fact that he is a pacifist. This is not necessarily good news, since the committee is likely to reach the same absurd conclusion once more. The good side of things is that Dror is on "vacation" at home until the next court hearing on march 6^th. It also shows some "flexibility" form the army's side.

 

 
Haggai Mattar:

 

Today (Wed., 26/2/03) , objector Haggai Mattar will be brought for a preliminary hearing to the Jaffa Military Court , 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 "Incompatibility 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, the simultaneous release of Uri and court-martialling of Haggai are part of deliberate new policy of "separation" 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.

It is not at all certain that there is a new policy of "separation", but it is clear that the army's approach is becoming more dynamic (for good & bad).

 

 
Currently in prison:

 

Rabi'a is imprisoned at the moment at prison no. 4, where he awaits his court martial. This is his second imprisonment. At June last year he spent 21 days in jail. Rabi'a is a druze conscientious objector, who refuses to serve in the army although he did enlist. During the past six month he "deserted" (stayed home without permission) and in that case a court martial isot an unusual step. Rabi'a requested to see the "unsuitability committee" but all his requests were denied. It's important to note that army's treatment of Druze CO's is more harsh that the others. On average, a Druze CO spends a great deal more time on prison (this is also true form immigrants form the former USSR).

Shimri is at present at prison no.4. on his second prison term, he is due to be released in the next few days.

 

Matan Kaminer:

Matan is now serving his third prison term, in prison no.4. until now he was sentenced to a total of 70 days. His is due to be released form this term on March 3^rd .

 
Adam Maor:

Adam was sentenced on Feb 23^rd to a term prison term of 28 days. He is currently in the isolation ward of prison no.4.

His expected release date: March 21^st.

Shimri, Matan & Adam are all signatories of the "senior's letter" www.shministim.org

 

Shahar is now approaching the end of his second prison term. He is spending this one on Jala'me military police detention, he si due to be released on March 2^nd. Shahar is a conscript who, after being in the army for more than a year decided that he cannot remain silent any longer, he declared that he does not see himself a soldier in the Israeli army anymore.

 
Nir Rehev:

Nir, a reserve OT objector was sentenced to 28 days in prison no. 6. his term will end on March 4^th .

 
Alon Ben-Ezer:

Alon, a reserve OT objector was sentenced to 28 days in prison no. 6. his term will end on March 3^rd. Alon is 24 years old, studies political science at Tel-Aviv university.

 
Amikam Baloko:

Amikam, a reserve OT objector was sentenced to 28 days in prison no. 6. his term will end on March 9^th .
 

 

Hillel Goral, Noam Bahat, Yoni Yehezkel. Have all completed their last prison term and are expected to be tried again in the next few days.

We recently became aware of another objector, Shmoel Baron, who already spent several prison terms. Shmoel is a pacifist who is struggling, for a year now, to get released from the army. A year ago he enlisted, because he was promised a service without uniform or weapons, as a computer programmer. However he was sent to undergo combat training. He has refused to carry a weapon, or to undergo the combat training, and has already spent more than 120 days in prison, most of that time is the isolation ward. Shmoel has written a very moving and detailed account of his past year of struggle. The letter is too long to be brought here, so I attach it as a text file.

At the moment, and for the next couple of days, Shoemel is home, because of illness, however, he is expected to be imprisoned again when he returns.

 
Recommended action:

In this case the most effective action is to write to the commander of the training base, and ask that Shmoel will be allowed to see an "unsuitability committee".
The address is:

 
A sample letter:

 
Shahar Ben-Har, Nir Rehev, Alon Ben-Ezer, Amikam Baloko: