IDF, Fellow Reservists Condemn Refusal Letter
Image by Getty Images
A letter in which dozens of Israeli intelligence corps reservists vowed to stop collecting information on Palestinians was condemned by the Israel Defense Forces.
IDF Spokesperson’s Unit head Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz in a statement issued Sunday called the letter an “exploitation of military service in order to express a political position. We see the incident as severe and serious disciplinary action will be taken.”
“There is no room in the IDF for refusal to serve,” Almoz said.
A letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed by 43 reservists, of whom 10 are officers, from the 8200 signal intelligence unit of the Israel Defense Forces’ intelligence corps, announced the decision.
It was also sent to Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Aviv Kochavi, who heads the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, Army Radio reported Friday.
“The intelligence gathered harms innocents and is used for political persecution and for invading most areas of Palestinians’ lives,” the 43 reservists wrote. “Our conscience no longer permits us to serve this system.”
In response to the letter, more than 200 former soldiers and officers from the 8200 unit published a letter in response saying they were “ashamed” of their fellow servicemen.
“We wish to express our dismay, disgust and complete disavowal of our friend’s unfortunate letter,” they wrote.”Refusal to serve on the basis of politics has no room in the IDF and certainly not in Unit 8200. When we as reserve soldiers are called to serve, we put our orientations and political opinions aside and serve our country.”
The response letter said that “when ethical dilemmas arose, we saw they were seriously and maturely addressed in accordance with international law and the IDF’s ethical code.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
