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New Profile Movement:
Harsh Police Attack on Freedom of Expression The Police Detained Political Activists from Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva
This morning the Israeli police descended
upon the homes of political activists, members of the feminist movement
New Profile, which acts for the civil-ization of society in Israel and
against the undue influence of the military on life in the country. The police demanded that the activists
turn over the computers located in their homes, and among other things
took the computers of partners of the detainees and in one case also
the computer of a fourth grade pupil, the daughter of one of those interrogated.
The computers of family members were returned after the activists were
released on bail. Amongst those interrogated: Analeen Kish,
aged 70, a ceramics artist, daughter of a family of the the “Righteous
among the Nations” who converted to Judaism after her marriage to
Holocaust survivor Dr. Eldad Kish, active in organizations of Dutch
Holocaust survivors in Israel. The pair have six grandchildren; Miriam
Hadar, age 51, an editor and translator, mother of two, married to professor
of psychology Uri Hadar. The two women were born in Holland and continue
to hold Dutch citizenship. Additionally detained for interrogation
were Amir Givol, a resident of Jerusalem, Sergei Sandler, a resident
of Beer Sheva, and Roni Barkan, a resident of Tel Aviv. The computers
of all those interrogated were taken by the police, who presented search
warrants. All five were interrogated in the Ramat
Hachiyal station in the Yarkon Region of the police. At the conclusion
of the interrogation they were released on bail and under limitng conditions,
and all were told that during the next 30 days they are forbidden to
contact other members of the movement. The New Profile Movement expressed rage
over the interrogation and the demand to not have contact with other
members, which means a partial paralysis of the activities of this important
organization in civil society in Israel. Attorney Smadar Ben Nathan, who is representing
New Profile, said that the investigation of the police is focusing on
the website of New Profile, which has links to other sites on the internet.
Ben Nathan added that the New Profile Movement is a recognized non-profit
association which acts openly and publicly, in accordance with the law,
and the use of a criminal investigation in this context is invalid and
exaggerated, and stands in opposition to freedom of expression. New Profile is a feminist movement established
ten years ago. The movement has been warning for years of the exaggerated
and destructive influence of Israeli militarism on civilian life, and
provides legal aid and social support to young people desiring not to
do military service, both for political and personal reasons. The New Profile Movement noted today:
“These recent acts confirm what we have been contending for many years:
the militarism of society in Israel harms the sacred principles of democracy,
freedom of expression and freedom of political association. One who
believed that until now criminal files were conjured up “only” for
Arab citizens of Israel saw this morning that none of us can be certain
that s/he can freely express an opinion concerning the failures of society
and rule in Israel.” For interviews: Dr. Diana Dolev, telephone:
052 872 8300 For further details: Ofra Leith, telephone:
050 552 4372 |
