31 January 2003

PRESS RELEASE: War Resisters' International releases new report on conscientious objection to military service in Israel

War Resisters' International, the international network of pacifist organisation with 90 affiliates in 45 countries, released a new report on conscientious objection to military service in Israel today. The report, which is titled "Conscientious objection to military service in Israel: an unrecognised human right" will be submitted to the United Nation Committee on Human Rights, which will consider the human rights situation in Israel during its session in March.

The report covers the period October 2000 to January 2003. According to the report, more than 180 conscientious objectors served prison terms in this period - a total of more than 6,500 days in prison. Most of those imprisoned for conscientious objection were reservists refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. They usually spent 28 days in prison - sometimes again and again, whenever they get called up for annual reserve duty.
An increasing number of youth is refusing to enlist in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). According to the report, more than 60 high school students announced their refusal in September 2001, and this number rose to more than 200 in September 2002.

Israel does not recognise the right to conscientious objection, which is derived from Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Israel is a signatory. On top of that, and in response to the increasing number of conscientious objectors who refuse to enlist in the IDF, the Israeli authorities increased sentences for the young draft resisters. Again in violation of international legal standards, conscientious objectors are sent to prison again and again - most recently conscientious objector Jonathan Ben-Artzi received a seventh prison term, and Haggai Matar received a fourth prison term yesterday.

"Israel's treatment of conscientious objectors is a gross violation of human rights, and needs urgent attention", says Andreas Speck, CO Campaigning Worker at War Resisters' International. "War Resisters' International is committed to support conscientious objectors in Israel, and WRI's groups all over the world are preparing actions and campaigns between now and 15 May - International Conscientious Objectors Day. Conscientious objectors in Israel show that there is an other Israel, that doesn't agree with Ariel Sharon's use of force against the Palestinian. These forces for nonviolence need to be strengthened - on both sides."

War Resisters' International report is available on WRI's website at  http://wri-irg.org/pdf/co-isr-03.pdf

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International


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