Reservists from the Intelligence Corps' Unit 8200 who penned a letter protesting their IDF service during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza over the summer will be dishonorably discharged, the IDF stated Monday.
In September, the soldiers, who include a number of extremist leftist activists, complained that their service "harms innocents" in an open letter published across the Israeli and international press.
"There is an idea that serving in the intelligence corps does not include moral dilemmas, and only contributes to the lessening of violence and harm to innocents," wrote the insubordinate soldiers in their letter. "But during our military service we learned that the intelligence corps is an inseparable part of the military control of the territories (Judea and Samaria - ed.)."
In response, the IDF cast doubts on the credibility of the letter's claims of abuse.
"The Intelligence Corps has no record that the... violations in the letter ever took place," it said in a statement.
"Immediately turning to the press instead of their (the soldiers') officers or relevant authorities is suspicious and raises doubts as to the seriousness of their claims," it added.
MK Yariv Levin (Likud), also a veteran of the elite unit, called for the soldiers' dismissal soon after the letter was leaked to the press.
"As a graduate of 8200, and as Chairman of the Subcommittee for Intelligence Affairs and the Defense Committee, I read the letter of refusal and I utterly reject the contents therein," Levin fired.
"Military service is a privilege," he added. "He who refuses to help keep our state safe crosses the line between those who support Israeli democracy and freedom it represents, and joins those who support the Palestinian terrorists attacking innocent citizens of Israel."