Another Objector in Prison

- Please distribute widely -

Second prison term for Walaa Kassem Naffaa, a conscientious objector, member of the Druze religious community in Israel. Information and recommended action follow.

We have received news of yet another conscientious objector held in military prison in Israel. Walaa Kassem Naffaa, 18, from Beit Jann, has served a 21-day prison sentence earlier in October, and immediately after it, on either the 28 or the 29 of October, was sentenced to a second term, this time of 14 days.

Walaa is a member of the Druze religious community. Druze men are among the few Palestinian citizens of Israel to whom the Israeli military applies mandatory conscription. Many young Druze men have refused to serve in the Israeli military on the grounds that such service would amount to fighting an ethnic war against their own people. Walaa also cites his general resistance to war and to conscription as grounds for his refusal to enlist.

Already at the age of 17, Walaa Naffaa refused to undergo the medical tests, mandatory for Israeli youths facing conscription. The military authorities eventually set an enlistment date for him in June this year, but he was not informed of this, and was later arrested and tried for being AWOL.

Walaa’s current prison term is due to end on 9 or 10 November, but he is likely to return to prison for further terms soon afterwards. Also, as you can see, we’re still trying to collect more information about his case, and will be sending further updates with more details later on.

Walaa is held in Military Prison no. 6:

Walaa joins Or Ben-David of the the 2009-2010 high school seniors letter, held in the military prison for women. Efi Brenner has indeed been given a temporary exemption (for three months) from military service, and, at least for a while, is not facing furhter imprisonment.

Recommended Action

First of all, please circulate this message and the information contained in it as widely as possible, not only through e-mail, but also on websites, social networks, conventional media, by word of mouth, etc.

Other recommendations for action:

1. Sending Letters of Support

Please send the imprisoned objectors letters of support (preferably postcards or by fax) to the prison addresses above.

2. Letters to Authorities

It is recommended to send letters of protest on the objectors’ behalf, preferably by fax, to:

Copies of your letters can also be sent to the commander of the military prison at:

Another useful address for sending copies would be the Military Attorney General (note updated fax number):

It would be especially useful to send your appeals to the Commander of the Induction Base in Tel-HaShomer. It is this officer that ultimately decides whether an objector is to be exempted from military service or sent to another round in prison, and it is the same officer who is ultimately in charge of the military Conscience Committee:

For those of you who live outside Israel, it would be very effective to send protests to your local Israeli embassy. You can find the address of your local embassy on the web.

Here is a generic sample letter, which you can use in sending appeals to authorities on the prisoners’ behalf. Feel free to modify this letter or write your own:

3. Letters to media in Israel and in other countries

Writing op-ed pieces and letters to editors of media in Israel and other countries could also be quite useful in indirectly but powerfully pressuring the military authorities to let go of the objectors and in bringing their plight and their cause to public attention.

Here are some contact details for the main media outlets in Israel:

    Ma’ariv:
    2 Karlibach st.
    Tel-Aviv 67132
    Israel
    Fax: +972-3-561-06-14
    e-mail: editor@maariv.co.il
    Yedioth Aharonoth:
    2 Moses st.
    Tel-Aviv
    Israel
    Fax: +972-3-608-25-46
    Ha’aretz (Hebrew):
    21 Schocken st.
    Tel-Aviv, 61001
    Israel
    Fax: +972-3-681-00-12
    Ha’aretz (English edition):
    21 Schocken st.
    Tel-Aviv, 61001
    Israel
    Fax: +972-3-512-11-56
    e-mail: letters@haaretz.co.il
    Radio (fax numbers):
    Kol-Israel +972-2-531-33-15
    Galei Zahal +972-3-512-67-20
    Television (fax numbers):
    Channel 1 +972-2-530-15-36
    Channel 2 +972-2-533-98-09
    Channel 10 +972-3-733-16-66

We will continue updating on further developments.

Thank you for your attention and action,

November 1, 2009 | Filed Under In Prison Now  | |

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