How Naama Issachar became a political pawn

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By now the story of Naama Issachar, the U.S.-Israeli citizen imprisoned in Russia since April, has exploded in the Israeli media and has been covered in various international news sources. It’s worth revisiting her story to provide updated details from Hebrew language media sites.

Naama made aliyah from the U.S. at age 16, enlisted in the army and finished her service with excellence. She was returning to Israel after a backpacking trip in India, and was stopped on a layover in Moscow after security found 9.6 grams of marijuana in her luggage. Officials escorted her from the airport to a police station, where authorities arrested her.

A Chabad rabbi arrived, acquired a lawyer, and Naama was charged with drug possession, which can carry up to three years in prison. Within two weeks the charge was changed to smuggling, which can carry up to eight years.

Naama has been held in a prison cell with three other women, where she is permitted one hour a day outside. She cannot communicate with the guards or inmates, and has been forbidden to have books in English or Hebrew. In a five-month period, she was able to see her mother a few times across a glass wall. Her hearing dates were set for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, where she sat fasting before receiving the final sentence of seven and one-half years in prison.

The Chabad rabbi was unable to pass her a pomegranate in honor of the new year. Both the rabbi and her lawyers claim her treatment to be extraordinary and unlike anything they have seen.

Throughout this period, Russian state media suggested a potential swap of Naama for Aleksey Berkov, a Russian hacker imprisoned in Israel and wanted in the U.S. for financial crimes. Both the U.S. and Russia requested his extradition and the Israeli Minister of Justice decided in favor of the U.S. According to recent interviews with legal experts in Israeli papers, because Berkov is a Russian citizen and the crimes were committed on Russian soil, Russia may have a greater claim for extradition.

While Naama accepted responsibility for drug possession, the entire handling of her case has been outrageous. She is being used as a pawn in an international diplomatic and legal arena. Whether Berkov should be extradited to the U.S. or Russia is a far bigger matter than minor drug possession. If the legal precedents sway in favor of extradition to Russia, it does not justify what amounts to hostage-taking.

Russia is exhibiting continued use of Soviet tactics to obscure reality while trampling over judicial and diplomatic norms. That Naama faced hearings on the High Holy days is further evidence of this. According to family, Naama is on the verge of collapse. At age 26, she is slated to leave prison at 33. This not only cuts off her ability to build her own life, but potentially threatens her chance of building a family and having children.

Currently her parents are exploring the appeals process, and lobbying Israeli officials for their cause. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin requested that Russian President Valdimir Putin grant a pardon, yet this can only be achieved after the appeals process and only if the appeal is denied.

Here are a few ways to support Naama:

              •            Donate to assist the family with material/logistical support (including lawyer fees and travel to Russia) at https://beactive.co.il/project/53797. Contact me or a local Hebrew speaker if you need assistance.

              •            Donate to Chabad in Moscow, which is supporting Naama during this time.

              •            Don’t fly to Russia or book with Aeroflot. While this may be less relevant for Americans, Israelis often travel to Russia for tourism or for cheap layovers to other destinations.

RACHEL MESHULAM (previously Shmookler) lived in Providence for 6 years. She became engaged to Gilor Meshulam, a previous community shaliach, and made aliyah in 2016. They live in Jerusalem and are expecting the unexpected with regards to national politics, local driving culture and the birth of their first child.