EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/907

(2004/C 84 E/1002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0898/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 March 2004)

Subject: Intimidation of well-known Israeli conscientious objectors who oppose the occupation of Palestinian territory by subjecting them to lengthy and repeated imprisonment

1. Is the Commission aware that military service has traditionally been compulsory in Israel for men and women but in practice there have been broad exemptions for orthodox Jews, non-Jewish residents and people who report physical or mental problems, and up until 2002 there was a right to refuse to do military service on personal grounds of conscientious objection, just as in European countries?

2. Is the Commission also aware that as a result of the long-term occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel and the growing number of clashes with the civilian population — following roadblocks, searches of residential areas and air attacks — since August 2002 the government has tightened up its policy and has begun to intimidate young men who have openly expressed their conscientious objection to the occupation by sending them to jail?

3. Does the Commission also realise that there are now signs that the growing group of refuseniks who oppose the occupation are being seen not as principled or unworldly pacifists but as political opponents, and whenever they have served their sentences they will be conscripted again under the slogan if you won't serve for love, do it out of fear, and if they refuse again they will have to return to prison?

4. Is the Commission aware that the prison sentences for carrying out orders found to be unlawful or reckless initiatives that lead to civilian deaths are often only one month, i.e. very short in relation to the one to two year sentences imposed for each refusal to carry out military service?

5. Is the Commission prepared to use the EU-Israel association agreement to find ways of tackling this ever greater hardening of Israeli society and hence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to prevent the Israeli government from imposing ever stricter and possibly even endless sentences on conscientious objectors who oppose the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

The Commission is attentively monitoring what happens to Israeli conscientious objectors and reservists who refuse to serve in the Occupied Territories.

The Commission Delegation in Tel Aviv keeps abreast of developments and, in fact, recently received a visit by representatives of the group for Israeli conscientious objectors, at their request.

While careful to avoid unwarranted interference in internal Israeli legislative matters, the Commission intends to continue monitoring developments, as it would monitor any other human-rights issue, and, where necessary, to raise the matter in the appropriate forum. Human-rights issues relating to Israel are usually discussed as part of the political dialogue within the Association Council, under the guidance of the EU Presidency and the Israeli Foreign Minister.

The next meeting of the Association Council with Israel is due to take place in the winter, in late 2004 or early 2005.