Israel gags soldier-turned-journalist

[Middle East News Service comments: Australians have been angry at a trial in China where an Australian was tried behind closed doors. Prime Minister Rudd pointed out to China not being a democracy, the law operates differently there. I wonder what he would make of a country in which a journalist has simply disappears and a gag order has been imposed on the whole matter so that nobody knows what happened to her. Even when her trial began a few weeks back, it was still illegal to mention the very existence of the case. Congratulations to Ron Kampeas and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for their bravery in going public about the issue. Hopefully the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance as well as the International Journalist Union will take up the case.

This is the place to also to pay tribute to blogger Richard Silverstein who was the first to go public in English over this issue. With Anat Kam’s friends, family and legal team arguing against any publicity, most bloggers and media sources chose to stay mum. Silverstein struck out on his own and was severely criticised by many. One day somebody will probably write a thesis on the Samizdat items that tried to get around the gag order, which Silverstein (and the JTA) relied upon.

One way or the other the cat is now out of the bag and the story deserves maximum publicity --Sol Salbe. ]

Israel gags news of soldier-turned-journalist under arrest

By Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Israel has held a journalist under secret house arrest since last December based on allegations that during her military service she leaked classified documents suggesting the IDF violated laws dealing with targeted killings.

Anat Kam, 23, was arrested last December and charged under Israel's espionage and treason laws, JTA has learned.

Prosecutors are seeking a 14-year sentence, which is considered severe by Israeli standards. Mordechai Vanunu, who revealed the existence of Israel's nuclear weapons capability, was sentenced to 18 years, eventually serving the full amount.

See the full article at: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/03/27/1011331/israel-gags-news-of-journalist-under-house-arrest

[The independent Middle East News Service concentrates on providing alternative information chiefly from Israeli sources. It is sponsored by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AJDS. These are expressed in its own statements]

© Scoop Media