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Israel: Update to ISR21767.F of 19 September 1995 and ISR25265.E of 29 October 1996 on the treatment of former Soviet Union immigrants within the military (2003-April 2005)

Information on the treatment of former Soviet Union immigrants within the military was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

In a May 2003 news article, the Tel Aviv-based newspaper Haaretz reported on the cases of some young immigrant Russians who had refused to perform military service in Israel (9 May 2003). Also known as Russian "refuseniks," these immigrants reportedly had a difficult time coping with their decision to abstain from military service because of weak family support networks, financial concerns, and social exclusion (Haaretz 9 May 2003).

In the case of one young Russian "refusenik," Arseny Khoutoryansky, the decision to refuse military service resulted in jail time in military prisons No. 4 and No. 6 (ibid.). Please see ISR43504.E of 21 April 2005 for information about military prisons in Israel.

In prison, Khoutoryansky reportedly faced "open physical harassment," and was punished with solitary confinement for not wearing a uniform (ibid.). Following his release from prison, Khoutoryansky reportedly attempted suicide; however, he convinced a mental health officer that "he was fine," and Khoutoryansky received another conscription notice (ibid.). According to Khoutoryansky's attorney, Neta Ziv, while it was, generally speaking, difficult "to point to any specific harassment with respect to immigrant 'refuseniks'," it was apparent that "the army does not know how to deal with them" (ibid.).

Nevertheless, in September 2003, news sources reported that Russian immigrants who were former soldiers in that country were "highly prized" (The Daily Telegraph 23 Sept. 2003) within the Israeli armed forces because of their skills and experience as snipers (ibid.; China Daily 23 Sept. 2003). Stationed strategically in the West Bank and Gaza, these Russian ex-combatants reportedly "fill the ranks of a specialist sniper unit known as the Aliya (Immigration) brigade" (The Daily Telegraph 23 Sept. 2003) or Immigrant Legion (China Daily 23 Sept. 2003) within the Israeli army. China Daily also noted that although the sniper unit was originally comprised of "several dozen Russian-born men aged 40 and over who were too old to qualify for reserve duty but had volunteered to serve in semi-official security squads," reportedly some 50 per cent of new sniper recruits are "Russian-speaking immigrants despite having no prior military experience" (ibid.).

ISR42490.FE of 18 March 2004 provides information on protection offered to an ethnic Russian who received death threats during military service.

For information about the general situation of former Soviet Union immigrants in Israel please refer to ISR41561.E and ISR41562.E of 5 June 2003, ISR41568.E of 2 June 2003, and ISR38865.E of 28 March 2002.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

China Daily. 23 September 2003. "Sources: Israel Recruits Russian Sharpshooters." <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-09/23/content_266527.htm> [Accessed 20 Apr. 2005]

Haaretz [Tel Aviv]. 9 May 2003. Lily Galili. "The New Russian Refuseniks." (Committee for a Workers' International, CWI) <http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2003/05/13israel.html> [Accessed 20 Apr. 2005]

The Daily Telegraph [London]. 23 September 2003. David Blair. "Israel Uses Russian Snipers on West Bank." <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml;sessionid=ZWFNXMUP0HZ1LQFIQMFCM5WAVCBQYJVC?xml=/news/2003/09/23/wmid23.xml&site=5> [Accessed 20 Apr. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Two oral sources did not respond within time constraints

Internet: Center on Conscience & War, Country Reports 2004, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, The Jerusalem Post, Jewish Peace Fellowship, New Profile, Refuser Solidarity Network.