Israel: Israeli military cards and booklets, including issuing authority, renewal process, and the language in which they are written; whether documentation is issued to conscientious objectors and individuals who appear before a military tribunal
1. Military Cards and Booklets
Information about Israeli military cards and booklets was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Israel Defense Forces' Personnel Directorate provided the information that follows, through correspondence with the Canadian embassy in Israel (Israel 8 Jan. 2012). The embassy requested the information on behalf of the Research Directorate (ibid.).
There are various types of military cards, including different types of honourable discharge cards, and every card has a different colour (ibid.).
The Pinkas Hoger military record is issued by the MEITAV [the military unit] on the day of recruitment (ibid.). The Pinkas Hoger does not indicate the soldier's rank during the mandatory service period (ibid.). If the Pinkas Hoger is lost or stolen and needs to be replaced, the soldier is tried by a lieutenant colonel or an officer with a higher rank (ibid.). The Pinkas Hoger is reissued at offices located in the country's major cities (ibid.).
Career servicemen such as officers and non-commissioned officers have a different type of card that specifies their rank (ibid.). It is a different colour from the Pinkas Hoger (ibid.). These cards are automatically renewed upon promotion to a higher rank or in "cases of wear and tear" (ibid.).
Honourable discharge documents are issued under the Personnel Directorate, Human Resources Planning and Management Division, Reserve Human Resources Planning Branch (ibid.).
Call-up notices are issued only in the Hebrew language, but assistance is available at the draft centre for those that require it (ibid.).
2. Documentation Related to Conscientious Objectors
"In cases of conscientious objectors and allegations of disobedience," background information, such as psychological evaluations and complaint forms, is entered into a computer system (Israel 8 Jan. 2012). The Israel Defence Forces "doesn't currently issue personnel files" (ibid.).
3. Documentation Issued in Connection with Military Tribunals
To access judgements made by a military or other tribunal,
[s]oldiers, who appear before a tribunal and serve time in prison in the army context, are able to obtain a copy of the decision by the military tribunal or the court martial by contacting the relevant tribunal's secretariat. (Israel 8 Jan. 2012)
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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Israel. 8 January 2012. Israel Defense Forces. Correpondence from the Head of the Foreign Affairs Office, Personnel Directorate, to the Embassy of Canada to Israel in Tel Aviv. Sent to the Research Directorate by the Embassy of Canada to Israel, 8 January 2012.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact a representative of War Resisters' International were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Association for Civil Rights in Israel; Center for Strategic and International Studies; ecoi.net; Factiva; GlobalSecurity.org; Haaretz; Israel – Israel Defense Forces, Ministry of Defence; Jane's Intelligence Review; Jane's Terrorism and Security Monitor; Middle East Review of International Affairs; Middle East Studies Association; United Nations Refworld; War Resisters' International.