The five Israeli refuseniks who had been serving two-year jail sentences (with the possibility of further extensions) for refusing to serve in the Israeli army in the Occupied Territories have won early release from jail.
AWL members and others have been holding regular protests outside the Israeli Embassy in London to demand their release, and those and other protests have now borne fruit.
The support group for the refuseniks organised by their parents in Israel reports:
Good news! The [Israeli military parole] committee has finally decided to release our boys from jail on September the 15th.
This is, in fact, only a one fourth sentence reduction rather than the one third reduction which they are legally entitled to.
Furthermore, the military committee members have indicated that: "the boys' conduct is characterized not only by mere good behavior but rather by a meaningful and substantial contribution to other inmates serving sentences in the same civil jail". The committee has also recognized that the boys' loyalty to their own conscience is a genuine expression of their will to contribute to Israeli society.
We wish to express our gratitude for your support which undoubtedly contributed to the committee's decision. We need your continuing support in our demand to immediately discharge our boys from the IDF. A public campaign focusing on this issue will commence shortly.
We would like to take this opportunity and remind you of Daniel Tsal, the courageous conscientious objector who has been in military jail for the past 90 days.
Daniel knew the very long difficult period ahead following the impossible heavy price tag for conscientious objection determined by the military court. Nevertheless, he decided to remain loyal to his conscience and refuse to enlist. Please read his impressive letter to the defense minister on www.refuz.org.il We will update you shortly on his continuing struggle.
