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Voices of Peace
Vol. VI
As the tragedies mount, a growing number of Israeli men and women reservists are
saying," NO, not in my name and with my body!"
A Letter from Yesh Gvul
about the Refuseniks
Dear Friends,
Three Israeli Defense Forces reservists -- including two brothers -- have been jailed
for refusal to serve in the occupied territories. Lieut. (res.) David Zonesheine
(26, from Tel Aviv, works in hi-tech, serves with an elite parachute unit) got 35
days; Sgt. Mjr. (res.) Gilad Svirsky (31, from Tel Aviv, married with two children)
was sentenced to 28 days; Lieut. (res.) Itai Svirsky (of Tel Aviv) got 21 days.
The number of refuseniks currently in jail rises to 7, with 130 overall jailed since
the onset of the present intifada. David Zonesheine is one of the two "instigators"
of January's Ometz Le'Sarev declaration which marked the advent on the refusal scene
of a wave of new adherents, including numerous reservists who had hitherto served
in the occupied territories.
The "reinforcements" have helped boost the number of refuseniks to 1000
or more. Zonesheine's case could be notable because, as in previous instances, his
demand to have his case tried by courtmartial, rather than the routine disciplinary
action, was turned down by the army - arguably out of concern that the formal court
procedure would allow the defence to invoke the "black flag" principle
(Kafr Kassem trial verdict, 1957) which requires soldiers to refuse an order that
is "flagrantly illegal".
The army evidently doesn't want to be obliged to defend the dubious legality of its
actions in the occupied territories ...
The Ometz Le'Sarev group has petitioned Israel's Supreme Court against the army's
refusal of a court-martial, the hearing will be held within days.
WE CALL ON ALL ADOPTION GROUPS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THESE
COURAGEOUS MEN -
Yours in Peace, Yesh Gvul
Also, if you live in a country which supports Israeli's current polices, write
your representatives. - Editor
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