Petition To Support Press Freedom in Israel

In 2008, Journalist Uri Blau from Haaretz newspaper published an article that was based on leaked documents – after receiving approval from the Israeli Military Censor. The article embarrassed the Israeli Defense Forces by revealing that the IDF had breached an order of a court ruling issued by the Israeli the Supreme Court restricting 'targeted assassinations' in the Occupied Territories.

Mr Blau was on vacation in late 2009 when he found out that the Israeli Government was looking to press charges against him for publishing classified information – at which point he chose to remain abroad until an agreement which gave total immunity to his sources could be reached with the Israeli authorities.

In April 2010, the Israeli Press council issued a statement concluding that “Without going into the facts of the case at hand, some of which are as yet unknown, the Press Council's position is that it is inappropriate to indict a journalist who obtains a classified document in the course of doing his journalistic work."

Since returning to Israel in October 2010, Mr Blau is now facing prosecution; the Israeli Justice Ministry is considering charging him with “holding classified information without authorization, and without intention to harm the security of the state”.

For the Israeli Attorney general to charge a journalist for what is widely accepted as “standard journalistic practise” sets a dangerous precedent and is likely to result in a degradation of constitutional rights to free speech in Israel. Should the Israeli government push through its attempt to intimidate and marginalize the journalistic community by prosecuting Mr Blau, it will no doubt lead to the stifling of public debate and a denial to Israeli citizens of their rights inherent to a vibrant and healthy democracy.

In a wider sense, the charges brought against Mr. Blau are a blatant and tragic attack on press freedom in Israel; Further information on the case – which has been widely covered across various media platforms - is accessible via the links below. Join us in taking a stand for the protection of journalistic rights and the preservation of freedom of speech in Israel!

Note: The petition has been altered from "We demand that the Israeli Attorney General's office drop all charges against the journalist Uri Blau" to "We demand that the Israeli Attorney General's office NOT charge the journalist Uri Blau" We apologize for the mistake.

LINKS:

http://kelevshmira.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/israeli-wikileaks-journalists-demand-not-to-persecute-haaretz-reporter/

Israeli journalists urge Shin Bet: Don't press charges against Uri Blau

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-journalists-urge-shin-bet-don-t-press-charges-against-uri-blau-1.284241

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-soldier-faces-jail-for-passing-secrets-to-reporter-2206362.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/08/anat-kamm-shin-bet-israel

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/02/israeli-journalist-anat-kam-house-arrest

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/haaretz-regrets-move-to-charge-uri-blau-for-doing-his-work-as-a-journalist-1.351455

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,687717,00.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-leak-suspect-held-in-secret-house-arrest-1930672.html

http://www.haaretz.com/news/haaretz-editor-idf-censor-okayed-haaretz-articles-in-anat-kam-case-1.830