21-year-old Yisrael Schreiber was supposed to be drafted into the IDF in the next few days, but he remains in the Disengagement wing of Ma'asiyahu Prison, where he has been jailed for the past two and a half months after taking part in anti-expulsion activities in the Ashkelon region.
Schreiber is not alone at Ma'asyahu. Although 175 detainees, including 46 minors, who took part in the rooftop resistance at Kfar Darom's synagogue were released, there are 20 activists still sitting in Ma'asiyahu prison with him, in addition to dozens jailed elsewhere.
Last Monday, as the last community in Gush Katif was uprooted, the jailors at Ma'asiyahu had a heated exchange with the detained activists that resulted in harsh punishments for some of the prisoners.
Yisrael's mother, Batya, told Arutz-7 that the prison guards taunted the activists as the expulsion progressed. Some of the prisoners responded angrily to the taunts and were punished with solitary confinement, told that they were no longer allowed to speak on the telephone and barred visitation rights. Two prisoners were moved to a different prison.
Mrs. Schreiber is worried that her son and the others still in prison are being forgotten. "We must struggle daily to let the public know that these are our prisoners of war, and that is it forbidden to leave them in jail. It is important that they be released, but we must all fight for it - it depends on us. It also depends on lawyers being allowed to visit them and let them know that in our struggle, we have not forgotten them."
Schreiber resents the Prisons Authority treatment of her son. "My son didn't wake up on time one morning and they simply attacked him, kicking him. They bring them to court in handcuffs and treat them like hardened criminals - it is simply not right, but our society has gotten used to it. It is depraved."
Prisons Authority spokesperson Orit Statzler told Arutz-7 that there are currently 54 Disengagement prisoners still in jail. Among them are 15 female minors, three male minors and 36 adults.
According to Statzler, there were two prisoners punished during the outburst last Monday. "Following blatant disciplinary violations by two of the prisoners, including loud and racist yelling at the guards and banging on their doors, the two were put on a disciplinary trial by the prison's commander, after which they were punished with 'separation' and not 'solitary confinement.' "
The spokesperson continued: "Relations with those arrested protesting the Disengagement are like those with all of the prisoners, with much understanding and consideration. They actually have good relations with the management, who is attentive to them at all times. At the same time, instances of disruption will be handled accordingly, with prisoners facing disciplinary trials within the jail."
Yisrael Schreiber has lost all motivation to join the army, although the IDF will be the one to decide on the matter. "If it was up to me, I would rather sit in jail than participate in the expulsion," his mother quoted him as saying.
Rabbi Nechemia Namisi of the Shoalei Torah Network, a veteran jailed anti-Disengagement activist, is still serving time in Ma'asiyahu prison for blocking the Shilat Junction two months ago. He says that one of the things that bothers him most is the fact that the Yesha Council called upon people to get arrested, but did not seem willing to serve time in prison themselves. He said he expected them to lead by example and face arrest and prison time for the cause, but that now they are not even acting on behalf of the youth who are sitting in prison in their stead.
Rabbi Namisi sees a positive outcome of the civil disobedience movement and the resulting arrests. "The imprisoned youth displayed great leadership qualities," he said "and although the struggle did not succeed, I expect these same youths to lead the nation of Israel in the future, using their courage and abilities to excel in education, politics, economics and anywhere else they put their minds to."
A Melava Malka ("Escorting of the Sabbath Queen") festivity is set to take place outside Ma'asiyahu Prison Saturday night to show solidarity with the prisoners. Participating will be Yitzhar hilltop Rabbi David Dudkevitch and redemption rocker Udi Davidi.