BICOM

Leaders from across the Israeli political spectrum and security establishment condemned 43 intelligence reservists who issued a public statement of conscientious objection.

The letter was signed by mid-ranking members of the elite 8200 intelligence unit, whose members are considered among Israel’s top young technological minds. The letter was addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Military Intelligence chief Aviv Kochavi. Released to the media at the end of last week, it stated, “We, veterans of Unit 8200, reserve soldiers both past and present, declare that we refuse to take part in actions against Palestinians and refuse to continue serving as tools in deepening the military control over the Occupied Territories.”

The letter claimed that, “Intelligence allows for the continued control over millions of people through thorough and intrusive supervision and invasion of most areas of life.” It also complained that, “Settlement expansion has nothing to do with national security.”

The contents of the letter and the refusal to serve was debated widely in the media over the weekend. In response, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Motti Almoz condemned the statement as, “Exploitation of military service to express a political stance.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented yesterday, slamming what he described as “the baseless slander levelled against” unit 8200, which he said “will not harm the vitally important work they do for the nation’s security.”

Opposition and Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog, who himself served in unit 8200, criticised the “call for insubordination” saying that the unit’s activities are “vital not only in wartime but mainly in peacetime.” Herzog added that complaints should not be made through “a damaging publication abroad, the price of which we, Israeli citizens, will pay.” Labour MK Shelly Yachimovich accused the refuseniks of a “selfish and self-righteous act” which “hurt the Zionist left.”

Meanwhile, around 200 veteran members of unit 8200 subsequently penned a counter-letter in which they said, “We cannot accept the accusations” which are “full of lies.”