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CO Sahar Vardi, third of a new wave of draft refusers to go to prison - including request for letters
by New Profile, 25/08/2008]
http://www.newprofile.org/showdata.asp?pid=1240
[Original title: First Prison Term for CO Sahar Vardi]

Dear Friends,

CO Sahar Vardi, 18, from Jerusalem, has been sentenced today (25 Aug) to 7 days in military prison (more will likely follow after she is released).

Sahar is the third conscientious objector, and the first woman, to be imprisoned among a new group of high school seniors, who signed a collective declaration of refusal to serve in the Israeli army of occupation, and in the work of organising which she has been very strongly involved.

While she stresses the importance of resisting the occupation of Palestine as a motive for her refusal, Sahar`s conscientious objection is also rooted in a wider pacifist position. In a letter to the Minister of Defence, declaring her refusal to serve in the military, She wrote:

I have been to the occupied Palestinian territory many times, and even though I realize that the soldier at the checkpoint is not responsible for the wretched policy of the oppressor towards civilians, I am unable to relieve that soldier of responsibility for his conduct ... I mean the human responsibility of not causing another human being to suffer.

The bloody times in which I live (consisting of assassinations, aggression, bombings, shootings) result in increasing numbers of victims on both sides. It is a vicious circle that emanates from the fact that both sides elect to engage in violence. This choice I refuse to take part in.

A demonstration was organised to join Sahar before she goes into the Induction Base to refuse enlistment (see image on the right). About 80 people came, in a not very late hour of the morning. Media coverage was also significant. A small counter-demonstration organised by a pro-military group confronted us (quite violently - head-butting one of the demonstrators on our side in the fact, driving a motorcycle into the crowd and nearly running over an elderly demonstrator). But all in all, Sahar went there in high spirits.

Sahar decided to refuse to wear a military uniform in prison, and has put in the Isolation Ward of the prison. The Isolation Wards of military prisons in Israel are often the cite of various minor or less minor forms of abuse, so Sahar will need a lot of support. She is due to be released from prison on 31 Aug. but is likely to be imprisoned again soon afterwards. Her prison address is:
Sahar Vardi
Military ID 6055780
Military Prison No. 400
Military Postal Code 02447, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-9579389

Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned objectors, we also recommend you to send your letters of support and encouragement to Sahar via e-mail to shministim@gmail.com, and they will be printed out and delivered to her during visits. In addition, you may want to follow some of our recommendations for action below.

Finally, a brief update on the other two imprisoned objectors - Udi Nir and Avichai Vaknin: Both are well. Udi was supposed to be moved into the Isolation Ward of Military Prison no. 6 for refusing to wear a uniform, but decided to accept the uniform, so that the two objectors could stay in prison together. Of course, will continue to inform on developments.


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, conventional media, by word of mouth, etc.

Other recommendations for action:

1. Sending Letters of Support

Please send Sahar letters of support (preferably postcards or by fax) to the prison address above.

2. Letters to Authorities

It is recommended to send letters of protest on Sahar`s behalf, preferably by fax, to:
Mr. Ehud Barak,
Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
37 Kaplan St.,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
E-mail: sar@mod.gov.il or pniot@mod.gov.il
Fax: ++972-3-696-27-57 / ++972-3-691-69-40 / ++972-3-691-79-15
Copies of your letters can also be sent to the commander of the military prison at:

Commander of Military Prison No. 400,
Military Prison No. 400,
Military postal number 02447, IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-9579389
Another useful address for sending copies would be the Military Attorney General:
Avichai Mandelblit,
Chief Military Attorney
Military postal code 9605, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-569-43-70

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:
Gadi Agmon,
Commander of Induction Base,
Meitav, Tel-HaShomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-737-60-52

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 sample letter, which you can use, or better adapt, in sending appeals to authorities on the prisoners` behalf:

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has come to my attention that Sahar Vardi, Military ID 6055780, a conscientious objector, has been imprisoned for her refusal to perform military service, and is held in Military Prison No. 400.

The imprisonment of conscientious objectors such as Sahar Vardi is a violation of international law, of basic human rights and of plain morals.

I therefore call for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of Sahar Vardi, without threat of further imprisonment in the future, and urge you and the system you are heading to respect the dignity and person of conscientious objectors, indeed of all human beings, in the future.

Sincerely,


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 Israel Hayom:
2 Hashlosha st.
The B1 Building
Tel-Aviv
Israel
e-mail: hayom@israelhayom.co.il Jerusalem Post:
P.O. Box 81
Jerusalem 91000
Israel
Fax: +972-2-538-95-27
e-mail: news@jpost.co.il or letters@jpost.co.il
Radio (fax numbers):
Kol-Israel +972-2-531-33-15

and +972-3-694-47-09
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


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