Haaretz journalist Uri Blau to face charges over leaks of West Bank military operation
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An Israeli journalist is to be indicted for possession of classified Israel Defence Forces (IDF) documents in a decision strongly criticised yesterday by the head of the country's Press Council.
Israel's Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, announced yesterday that Uri Blau, a reporter for the liberal daily Haaretz, would be charged with unauthorised possession of state secrets. The charge carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.
A 2008 story by Mr Blau based on leaked documents charged that one or two Islamic Jihad militants had been targeted for assassination in Jenin in apparent violation of a Supreme Court ruling heavily restricting the circumstances in which killings, as opposed to arrests, were permissible.
The State Prosecutor's Office said Mr Blau had held thousands of military and top-secret documents which were stolen from the IDF by Anat Kamm, a former Israeli soldier who was convicted in February of collecting and passing on classified information. Ms Kamm was sentenced to four years in jail.
Haaretz said yesterday that the decision "is unfortunate and sets a precedent in terms of its ramifications on the freedom of press in Israel, and especially on the ability to cover the security apparatus."
Otniel Schneller, a member of the Knesset for the Kadima party, said Mr Blau had "endangered Israel's security not less, and perhaps even more, than the actions of Anat Kamm." But Judge Dalia Dorner, head of Israel's Press Council, said: "Many journalists that deal with these issues hold these kinds of documents, and this kind of a decision has a chilling effect."
In March 2010, The Independent was the first newspaper to test an unusual gagging order covering Ms Kamm's secret house arrest in connection with the charges by publishing her name.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments