Censor order
Censor orderIsrael news photo

Knesset Member Nachman Shai (Kadima) has asked Defense Minister Ehud Barak to order the removal of a gag order preventing Israeli media from publishing details of a security issue that has been widely reported outside the country. 

The case involves a reserve soldier who leaked secret information to the left-wing Haaretz newspaper, which used them and reported several months ago details that now cannot be published. The writer of the article is outside of Israel pending developments.

If Defense Minister Barak does not remove the order to IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi shortly, several media outlets are expected to appeal to the courts to allow them to publish details that are known to anyone who surfs on several non-Israeli sites. The British Guardian and Washington Post both have reported the story, which has gained more attention because of the gag order.

The American-based Committee to Protect Journalists also has asked that the censorship be lifted so that the incident can be investigated openly.

The soldier, a woman, told foreign media she could not comment on the case because of the military censor order.