Israel expels 43 intelligence veterans who refused to spy in Palestinian territories

[bemildred]

Israel’s top military electronic surveillance unit expelled dozens of veterans on Monday for refusing to spy on Palestinians living under occupation, Army Radio said.

The commander of Unit 8200, named as Brigadier-General “A”, barred the 43 reserve soldiers who wrote to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top army chiefs in September, saying they could no longer serve in the unit, the radio said.

Coming a few weeks after Israel’s 50-day war against Islamist militants in the Gaza Strip, the letter was seen as an unprecedented rebuke of Netanyahu’s security policies but the military dismissed it as a publicity stunt by a small fringe.

By decrying the sweep of eavesdropping on Palestinians, and the role such espionage plays in setting up air strikes that have often inflicted civilian casualties, the move opened a window on clandestine practices.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/27/israel-expels-intelligence-veterans-who-refused-spy-occupied-palestinians

[azurnoir]

1. it's always that "small fringe" isn't it?

albeit Brigadier-General “A”'s move seems an attempt at face saving or closing the barn door after the horses left

[bemildred]

2. It's always a personal affront.

And what that tells you is they have nothing better, because if they did, they would use it. As long as they keep it a personal dispute, they don't have to defend their policies. This is VERY popular tactic anywhere you go. It is the rhetorical equivalent of "Because I say so, and you are going to get a licking if you don't shutup."

We were just talking about that.

[King_David]

3. Could only happen in a healthy democracy

Imagine the KGB or Egypt or Leabanin or Jordan if this happened.

Kol Hakavod to these reservists.