ELEVEN "ANARCHISTS AGAINST THE WALL" SENTENCED IN ISRAEL:
The trial of eleven members of the Israeli anarchist group 'Anarchists Against the Wall' (see also our links section) ended today, Feb 18th, after three years of legal wrangling. Seven of the defendants had their convictions set aside in lieu of 80 hours of community service. The verdict for three others was set over until March 18th because of combined charges for other political activity. One defendant, Jonathan Pollack, received a three month suspended sentence. This defendant asked the judge to sentence him to actual jail time in a political statement read before the court. He stated plainly that, "this is my first conviction and it certainly won't be my last", in essence saying that he will continue his political activity and thus the suspended sentence will turn into a real one in due time. The terms of the sentence say that Pollack cannot participate in any illegal gathering in the next two years. In Israel any gathering in the occupied territories is automatically "illegal", and Pollack says that his intent to participate in same, not cooperate with the parole board and not comply with the community service provisions of his parole means that he might as well go to jail now.
For more on the Israeli anarchist click on the link above or go to our links section.
Molly