Another Occupation Refuser Entering Jail
Uri Natan sentenced to 7 days in military prison; Alex Cohn already in jail 130 days; Shaul Mograbi-Berger and Urwa Zidan sentenced for the third time
Uri Natan and Shaul Mograbi-Berger were sentenced today, 28.9.05, to imprisonment in a military jail after they presented themselves at the national conscription center and announced their refusal to be enlisted for regular mandatory service in the IDF. Uri was sentenced to 7 days imprisonment, Shaul – to 14 days.
About 100 friends and supporters came to accompany Uri and Shaul. Some of them, dressed in army uniform, presented passers-by with a “gift for our boys in the army”: plastic handcuffs and “instructions” for humiliating peace activists. They gave a performance of soldiers arresting Palestinian civilians and activists, putting them in handcuffs and blindfolding them.
Uri Natan was sentenced for the first time. In his letter to the Minister of Defense he wrote: “I have lived in Israel all of my life, for 18 years. Throughout these years I have been witnessing endless suffering around me, I have been seeing revenge leading to revenge and more revenge. Nothing has helped me understand the explanations and excuses that I have heard as to why the violence perpetrated by the Israeli side is to be preferred over that coming from the Palestinian side. The use of violence, killings, and intended harm and humiliation cannot be justified, I believe, and I cannot understand why it is presented as necessary. I cannot see any advantage in the intimidation of an entire population – all I can see is suffering heaped upon even more suffering – revenge causing revenge causing more revenge… I am therefore letting you know that I shall not serve in the Israeli army”.
Shaul Mograbi-Berger was sentenced for a third term of imprisonment.
Urwa Zidan (19) is now serving his third term in prison. Urwa, who was hospitalized recently due to illness, arrived to the conscription center with medical papers stating that he was ill but was sent directly to prison.
Alex Cohn is now serving his eighth term in prison - a total of 130 days up to now. Ten days ago he was told that his case would be heard by a so-called discharge committee and was sent home meanwhile. A few hours later he received a call from the army canceling that decision and ordering him to return immediately. He was sentenced once again to a 14-day term in military prison.
For more details: www.refuz.org.il,
www.shministim.org 
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