Court cuts sentences for five who refused to serve in IDF
A military appeals committee on Wednesday decided to reduce the sentences of five men who refused to serve in the Israel Defense Forces by one-third, defying the military prosecution's recommendation.
A military appeals committee on Wednesday decided to reduce the sentences of five men who refused to serve in the Israel Defense Forces by one-third, defying the military prosecution's recommendation.
The military prosecution had demanded that the five express regret as a condition for commuting their one-year sentences.
The five - Hagai Matar, Adam Ma'or, Matan Kaminer, Noam Bahat and Shomri Zameret - are serving their sentences in civilian prisons. Following the committee's decision, they will be released on September 15.
The committee also recommended that they be allowed to appear before a board that determines suitability for serving in the army, thus providing them with the possibility of being released from service altogether.
The committee had received letters from the prison authorities and from other inmates expressing admiration for the young men's behavior in prison. Members of the committee also noted that the five had made attempts to serve the community before their imprisonment, and expressed confidence in their statements that they planned to continue to do so.
"The committee has recognized that the refuseniks' loyalty to their consciences is an expression of their strong desire to contribute to Israeli society," said their lawyer, Dov Khenin.
The five - Hagai Matar, Adam Ma'or, Matan Kaminer, Noam Bahat and Shomri Zameret - are serving their sentences in civilian prisons. Following the committee's decision, they will be released on September 15.
The committee also recommended that they be allowed to appear before a board that determines suitability for serving in the army, thus providing them with the possibility of being released from service altogether.
The committee had received letters from the prison authorities and from other inmates expressing admiration for the young men's behavior in prison. Members of the committee also noted that the five had made attempts to serve the community before their imprisonment, and expressed confidence in their statements that they planned to continue to do so.
"The committee has recognized that the refuseniks' loyalty to their consciences is an expression of their strong desire to contribute to Israeli society," said their lawyer, Dov Khenin.
