This is according to the ruling of the Ethics Court of the Press and Communications Council • The head of the court, Prof. Muhammad Wade:
The Ethics Court of the Press and Communications Council, headed by Prof. Muhammad Watt, ruled today (Tuesday) on appeal that Yedioth Ahronoth must suspend the publisher and its editor-in-chief, Arnon (Noni) Mozes, from his journalistic work until the final decision in the criminal proceedings. Against him.
Case 2000: Noni Mozes and MK Eitan Kabel are interrogated // Archive photo: Shmuel Buharis
The proceedings are being conducted following the Attorney General's decision to file an indictment in the 2000 case, in which Mozes was charged with offering a bribe to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court unanimously accepted the success of the association through its attorney, Adv. Elad Mann. On a previous ruling by the Ethics Court following a complaint by the Success Association from November 2019, which requested that the court order Yedioth Ahronoth to suspend Mozes.
The head of the tribunal, Prof. Veded, noted in the judgment: "After reviewing the appeal on all its grounds, including the arguments presented to us orally, I am satisfied that the appeal should be accepted, and in accordance with ordering Respondent 1 (" Yedioth Ahronoth ") to suspend Moses from his journalistic work "Until the final decision in the criminal proceedings against him in the 2000 case. The criminal acts attributed to Mozes establish disgrace on the journalism profession, and therefore Respondent 1 should be ordered to suspend Mozes' journalistic work."
Prof. Veded noted in the verdict: "These are acts of very high moral severity, one that has the potential to shock the forefront of the thresholds, and even seriously damage the public's trust in the media and journalists."
Later in the judgment, the head of the tribunal clarified: "The power of the presumption of innocence is beautiful in relation to the criminal proceedings, and in any case not to the public and ethical aspects that surround the case before us.
"The Court's disregard of the indictment against Mozes means not only an unfounded disregard of the evidentiary basis on which the indictment stands, but also an unreasonable disregard, in an extreme way, of Mozes' power to use his great power, as Respondent 1's editor-in-chief, inter alia. The case is the subject of the indictment. "
The head of the tribunal expressed great regret regarding the behavior of the publisher Mozes and Yedioth Ahronoth: "who chose not to appear before the tribunal for hearings, while demonstrably ignoring the proceedings against them.
This conduct in itself is manifestly unethical conduct, reflecting contempt of court and ethics.
The respondents chose to place themselves above the rules of ethics. "A spokesman for the Press Council said that Yedioth Ahronoth and Mozes did not comment on the ruling.