Legal adviser Gali Beharve-Miara, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/photo processing, Tomer Neuberg, Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90
The Prime Minister's Office turned to the Office of the Legal Adviser to the Government Gali Beharev Miara with a request that the Ministry of Justice issue a warning to journalists and media systems, according to which a news reporter who publishes quotes from the political-security cabinet will be prosecuted - this was announced this morning (Wednesday) by Network B here.
The publication comes after the revelation of a news reporter here 11 Michael Shemesh about Netanyahu's demand to criminally prosecute reporters who quote from cabinet meetings, this under the argument of "damaging state security".
According to Netanyahu's demand, a reporter will receive "immunity" only if he has received the approval of the censorship, which Netanyahu also intends to impose restrictions on (recall that only recently allegations were made against the Chief Military Censor Brigadier General Kobi Mandelblit about suspected discrimination in the exercise of censorship powers against journalists, this among The permit following the revelation of Walla! Barangay about approval given to Amit Segal from News 12 to publish about Yahya Sinvar's meeting with abductees), this after he refused to approve it to be published in Haretz).
Despite the opposition of the prosecutor, in Netanyahu's office not only did they not deny the things, but On the face of it, the ground is being prepared for a legislative change and they confirmed that a discussion will be held in the Ministry of Justice on the issue in the coming days.
According to his people, according to Shemesh's publication, there is no need to change the law for that, since the existing law allows the prosecution of reporters.
It's not just about the legal impossibility of such a move, which won't pass the High Court of Justice and is already receiving a weak response even in the ranks of the Likud (Energy Minister Eli Cohen commented on things on the program "This Morning" here on the B network and rejected a law against journalists).
Netanyahu understands a thing or two about leaks In the news companies (which are indeed very careful about censorship during the war), they will be able to testify to more than one case in which Netanyahu's own people leaked information to reporters that was sometimes denied during the broadcast. He also apparently understands that this type of obviously anti-democratic move - which is sometimes even against their interests of his coalition partners themselves - there is no possibility, neither politically nor publicly.
Netanyahu's spin - a spin that is clear even to its creator that will not come true, serves two important purposes for him: the first, to deter against leaks that are not under his control or his will (it used to be the polygraph law that was thrown into the air, what which raises the question of whether he included himself as well, and now it is the "Leaks Act"). About "The Shishkorot that helps Sinwar", which is played frequently on his home channel on Channel 14.
"Bright Warning Sign"
The journalists' organization stated in response: "The Prime Minister's proposal to allow the prosecution of journalists for legitimate press publications is a bright warning sign on the way to serious damage to the freedom of the press.
Under the auspices of the war and using apparent security considerations, the Prime Minister's Office is promoting an anti-democratic proposal that has no equal in democratic countries and that will seriously harm the freedom of the press. If the Prime Minister feels that there is a problem with leaks, let him deal with the accomplices and not with the journalists who are doing their jobs."
From the Journalists' Association Jerusalem was informed: "This proposal turns on a red light of a serious fear of harming the freedom of the press, when the target is not the leaker from a cabinet meeting - but the one who brings the information to the public's attention out of a journalistic commitment to the public's right to know.
Be that as it may - any publication that has a fear of harming the security of the state is submitted for censorship approval anyway.
The initiator's concern is not an injury to security, but an injury to the image and status of a political figure due to the exposure of a situation picture and his part in it - as it is and as it is."
More on the same topic:
Waves in Harv Miara
Benjamin Netanyahu
War of Iron Swords