All that changed this week, when 43 veterans of the unit – many of whom are still active reservists – signed a public letter saying that they will no longer spy on Palestinians living under occupation. With signatories including officers, former instructors and other senior officials, the letter condemns the widespread surveillance of innocent residents, and alleges that this all-encompassing intelligence is used for political persecution and to create divisions in Palestinian society. It also criticised the role of this intelligence in setting up airstrikes. We refuse to take part in actions against Palestinians and refuse to continue serving as a tool for deepening military rule in the occupied [Palestinian] territories, quoted Yedioth Ahranoth, Israels most widely read newspaper. The names of the signatories were not made public, in accordance with their non-disclosure agreement with Unit 8200, which also works in Iran and other countries. The letter has been dismissed by the military as a publicity stunt by a small minority. Its a big outfit, so naturally a few of its veterans may gravitate to the far-left, as well as to the far-right, said Amos Yadlin, a former chief of military intelligence. However, the letter has shone a light on generally clandestine practices, and opened up a debate about intelligence gathering that mirrors the American debate about the NSA prompted by the Edward Snowden leaks.............
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:32:38 +0000
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