Abuse against Haredi: wanted to enlist, and was arrested for desertion

An unusual sight took place yesterday Monday) at the headquarters in Tel Aviv: Naama Amitai, a young orthodox woman, demonstrated due to her husband – Yisrael's imprisonment, who was arrested for lack of military service , and was sentenced to four months in prison.

According to her, the story began at the age of 20, upon graduating. On recruitment day Yisrael was studying at a yeshiva in New York, and on his return to Israel a short time later, inquired whether his parents received a letter of recruitment, or military representatives contacted but the reply was negative. Yisrael was interested to join. He made contact with Shahar Kachol and Binah Beyarok, where he was told that his enlistment date will be in six months.

Despite repeated appeals, he has not received a draft notice or serious treatment.

After two years of chasing the army to enlist, he decided to let go. Since then he went abroad several times, and despite everything he was not contacted. He then married and moved with his wife to Netivot .

"Since the wedding I have heard several times that once he will be addressed he will mobilize to military service, but he will not chase after them," says his wife. "Six months ago, my husband was in a car accident and had to get the accident case from the police. About a month ago they called him and said that the case was ready and he can come."

But he did not expect how the visit will end at the police station.

"Unusual step and not really acceptable"

After the policeman at the station put the ID number into the computer, he saw he was defined as a deserter, and he called the military police to come arrest him. "My husband smiled and told the policeman that he had no reason to contact them, as he has been pursuing them for several years, and apparently they do not want to recruit him at all, but was surprised when the military police arrived and arrested him. He was in detention for 12 days, and went to trial.

"Prosecution wanted to give him full imprisonment for eight months, but after an argument with the lawyer who represented Yisrael, reached an agreement on the detention of 112 days (four months) . Following sentence, we thought to appeal, but feared that it would only hurt, and we decided not to. In order to help him, I posted the case on Facebook , but it didn’t gain momentum. I turned all the relevant factors, from the office of the Chief of Military Ombudsman, an officer, the Ministry of Defense, to the activists and public figures.

"Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman of Migdal Haemek, who heads Torah Ohr, received my proposal, and along with the aid of Yisrael Yeret - succeeded in getting him out for Sukkot holiday, which of course gave me a bit of strength for after the holiday," she says and hopes: "If facebook posts achieved huge things, why should my protest not help? Which factors may help me?

"Since all attempts were unsuccessful, I decided to make an unusual step and not really acceptable amongst the sector, and went to demonstrate against the government headquarters in Tel Aviv. My goal was to stimulate public awareness and communication, and help my husband. Most people who passed by and saw me, were military personnel and civilians who took part in my pain, and expressed their support. Military high-ranking personnel who noticed me preferred not to look me in the eye.

"A man who declares that he wants to join, and pursued after the army, why should such a person sit four or eight months -he has not issued any delay or exemption, as he wanted to enlist. Since the protest, the media contacted me and were interested in the case. My father was interviewed this morning on a regional radio show, and spoke with channel 10. I recently spoke to Channel 2 on the internet, and I hope it does help.

"During the last day, I received many calls from people who expressed a desire to help, including many haredim, many identification calls from Haredi women who have experienced similar incidents. I'm currently not in a state of sitting before people who don’t want to hear, and my mental state is low, especially with the approaching date of my birth. Advertising on the media has helped; I hope that now things move."

"There is no cause to arrest, just ego"

• What is your expectation, what do you expect to happen?

"My expectation that he will not be in prison, since there is no reason. I am due to give birth these days; it is illogical that at the time he will be in prison. He would like to be recruited now, there is no purpose or benefit to arrest, only ego of the military."

The IDF spokesman said in response: "soldier was convicted in military court for the offense of absence from service without permission, for the truancy service since 2008. Part of the legal proceedings against him, the military court upheld a plea bargain in the case that, among other things, the soldier was sentenced to 113 days in prison. After he completes his sentence a decision will be made regarding the continuation of military service.

"Since this is a plea bargain approved by the Court and agreed by the detainee and his counsel, decided not to pardon the prisoner that he should serve his sentence as prescribed. Possibility of his departure on vacation from prison will be considered by the relevant parties in due course."

Army refused to comment on the allegations of his wife, the complete disregard of it since 2008, and despite all his efforts to enlist, not returned to him.

In response says Naama : " During the trial, I spoke with the attorney, who knew about my pregnancy, and she promised he will be released from jail before my birth, and promised he will receive vacations and good conditions . Meanwhile I am about to give birth, and there is no one to stand by my side to support and help me. The expected release is in about a month and a half.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!