Conscientious objector Yuval Oron-Ofir was sentenced for the second time yesterday (7 Dec.) to 7 days in military prison for his refusal to serve in the Israeli military. Continue reading »
The last time I was out of prison, I went to see my dad.
A note from Ayelet Ophir-Auron, mother of jailed Shminist Yuval Ophir-Auron. Continue reading »
Conscientious objector, Tamar Katz, a signatory of the 2008 high school seniors refusal letter, was sentenced today, 1 Dec, to 21 days in military prison in solitary confinement.
On November 26, 2008 Howard Zinn sent his letter of protest to the Ministry of Defense in Israel, supporting the Shministim and their right to peacefully object military service. Read a copy of Howard Zinn’s letter below that asks people to join him and sign a letter of support for the Shministim.
Yuval Ophir-Auron, a signatory of the 2008 high school seniors refusal letter, was sentenced on Monday, 24 Nov., to 14 days in military prison for his refusal to serve in the Israeli military.
Yuval is 19 years of age. He lives in the Arab-Jewish village Neveshalom / Wahat al-Salaam. He has spent the past few years in high school, where he majored in History and Theatre, and after graduation volunteered for a year’s civilian service, living in a commune in Yavne. As a volunteer he worked with Ethiopian youth and youth from other disempowered communities. In edition, he volunteered in a nursery for children of refugee and migrant workers in south Tel Aviv.
Yuval refuses to join the Israeli military as it is an occupying force. You can read the full text of his (very eloquent) declaration of refusal here. He is due to be released from prison on 5 Dec. His prison address is:
Yuval is seen in the entrance of the recruiting station in Tel Hashomer army base before he was detained later that day
Yuval Ophir-Auron
ID number 201205580
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: +972-4-9540580
Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned
objectors, we also recommend you to send your letters of support and
encouragement to the imprisoned (and otherwise detained) objectors via
e-mail to shministim@gmail.com,
November 18, 2008
Omer Goldman, daughter of the former deputy head of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, who has served a total of 35 days since since Sept 2008, was today exempted from military service on medical grounds.
Mia Tamarin has been detained twice in military prison since signing the Shministim declaration of refusal and was again sentenced to 21 days for the third time on 10, Nov. 2008.
The military authorities however delayed the necessary bureaucratic procedures and have not yet sent her to prison. They claim the women’s prison where Mia was meant to be detained is full and unable to accommodate another inmate. They have now announced that Mia’s status is that of “confined base” and she has been ordered to report every morning to the Induction Base for the duration of her sentence instead of being sent to prison.
This seems an uncharacteristic action by the Israeli military and could indicate that it is changing its policies, temporarily at least, to avoid sending declared conscientious female objectors to prison, perhaps in response to growing publicity of the Shministim cause.
The Jewish-American group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) has announced a solidarity campaign with the Shministim, a group of Israeli high school students who refuse to serve in the Israeli military because of the occupation of Palestinian Territories. Historian Howard Zinn, a member of JVP’s Advisory Board, asked tens of thousands of JVP supporters to help secure thousands of letters to the ISraeli Minister of Defense on behalf of the Shministim. The Shministim will hold a Day of Action in Tel Aviv on December 18th to demand release of conscientious objectors who have been imprisoned.