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Last update - 21:22 06/12/2007
3 Israeli journalists probed over travel to enemy states
By Sara Miller, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Lebanon, Lisa Goldman 

The Israel Police recently interrogated three Israeli journalists suspected of unauthorized travel to an enemy state, following visits to Syria and Lebanon.

The journalists were named as Ron Ben-Yishai, who reported for the "Yedioth Aharonot" newspaper from Syria; Tsur Shezaf, who wrote from Lebanon for the Israeli geographical magazine "Masa Aher" (A Different Voyage) and Lisa Goldman, who traveled twice to Lebanon for Channel 10 television. All of the visits took place in the last few months.

The travel by Israeli citizens to enemy states is considered a serious crime, even if they travel with foreign passports, due to the risk to their own lives and to the security of the state. The maximum penalty for the offense is four years in jail.
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Alon Shahrabani, head of the economic and security branch of the International Crimes Investigations Unit, told Israel Radio that the journalists under investigation had not received the necessary permits from the prime minister and interior minister to make the journeys.

"They left on a personal mission to those states, and were investigated because we take a grave view of these actions, which place Israel under great risk, beyond the personal risk to their security," Shahrabani said.

He added that the evidence gathered in the investigation would be transferred to the State Prosecution.

Dalia Dorner, president of the Israel Press Council, said that "one of our missions is to preserve the freedom of the press - that is fundamental. The catch is that if a journalist commits a deed that is considered a legal offense, then of course we cannot get involved."

"I understand the security aspect - the law must be protected. Myself - when I read those articles, I thought they traveled with permits," Dorner said. "I hope that the matter stays within the limits of an investigation and a warning. Ultimately, these are good people who wanted to work on their journalistic craft."

Lisa Goldman confirmed to Haaretz on Thursday that she had been interrogated a month ago, but expressed great surprise that details of the investigation had emerged, given that the police had told her not to discuss it.

"I have no idea who leaked this story," she said. "I was completely flabbergasted when an Israeli reporter telephoned me today to inform me that the investigation had been announced on the radio. I have no idea who leaked it and very surprised that it's now been released. The police told me not to discuss the interrogation and I didn't. Therefore I am very surprised that the matter is now being exposed in the media."

Goldman said that she had been unaware that she had broken any laws, adding that, "if I had known there was no way I would have gone."

She told Haaretz that she had received congratulatory calls from "very senior members of the Prime Minister's Office" after her report from Lebanon had been broadcast on Channel 10 television, and it seems that they "were not aware of the law either."

Goldman said that she had been surprised by the fact that police were investigating the issue at all, given that a significant number of Israeli journalists had traveled to Arab states in recent years.

"I'm very surprised that the police have now opened an investigation against three Israeli reporters when there must be at least 10 who traveled to Arab countries using foreign passports over the last couple of years alone, and there are certainly many, many precedents over the last decade."

Related articles:
  • Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist'
  • MK Nafaa ignores gov't travel ban, arrives in Syria for a visit

    Related links:
  • Lisa Goldman's blog: On the Face
  • Masa Acher [A different voyage / Hebrew]
  • Channel 10 Televisiona>
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      1.   Can Israel add the UK to the list 14:37  |  Paul Wood 06/12/07
      2.   HOw dare you risk the security of the State 14:51  |  Kevin 06/12/07
      3.   WHAT ABOUT THE "SETTLERS"?? 14:52  |  Iskander 06/12/07
      4.   Journalists in Syria and Lebanon 15:00  |  Rachel 06/12/07
      5.   PAUL WOOD That`s so clever.Sure all Brits agree with you 15:03  |  PETER SM 06/12/07
      6.   Journalists in Syria and Lebanon 15:03  |  Rachel 06/12/07
      7.   I`m surprised Amira Hass didn`t go there for more antiIsrael news 15:11  |  Nannette 06/12/07
      8.   Silly Iskander: Judea And Samaria Aren`t Enemy States 15:12  |  Yishai Kohen 06/12/07
      9.   Enemy States? 15:12  |  Anonymous 06/12/07
      10.   #3. Westjordan 16:10  |  Robin 06/12/07
      11.   Genius journalists & travel to enemy states 16:14  |  curious 06/12/07
      12.   #2 -- Really thick 16:18  |  Alan 06/12/07
      13.   Next thing they are kidnapped by Hezbollah who will ask from 16:35  |  S 06/12/07
      14.   Reporters in Syria and Lebanon 17:01  |  David Gershon 06/12/07
      15.   Mr S...wrong on two counts 17:11  |  David James Vickery 06/12/07
      16.   What about Iraq & Saudia Arabia 17:11  |  Curious 06/12/07
      17.   Understandable restriction, but make it lighter 17:20  |  Tosefta 06/12/07
      18.   Where are the calls of "Traitors" and 5th column? 17:40  |  Rami 06/12/07
      19.   Remember Daniel Pearl 17:47  |  AA 06/12/07
      20.   David James Vickery #10 17:57  |  S 06/12/07
      21.   #10 Vickery 18:07  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      22.   #2 Kevin Baltimore 18:10  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      23.   #10 Vickery 18:13  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      24.   Ridiculous 18:15  |  Boris 06/12/07
      25.   If these Israelis have dual nationality 19:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/07
      26.   #15 Ben Jabo: Get the point 19:22  |  Kevin 06/12/07
      27.   #16, #10 Ben Jabo and Vickery 19:25  |  Kevin 06/12/07
      28.   # 17 Boris 19:29  |  tbora 06/12/07
      29.   how did they get into Lebanon? 19:31  |  I.A. 06/12/07
      30.   Vickery 19:45  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 06/12/07
      31.   F of the P 19:49  |  jjvanka 06/12/07
      32.   Israel, police state 20:12  |  D 06/12/07
      33.   Ata Farahat 20:18  |  Sally Cooperman 06/12/07
      34.   Another reason not to have Israeli citizenship. 20:25  |  Israel_is_Done 06/12/07
      35.   Lets Get This Straight 20:30  |  Phil 06/12/07
      36.   TO #3 20:54  |  ari 06/12/07
      37.   #18 D 21:09  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      38.   #19 Sally Cooperman 21:11  |  * BEN JABO 06/12/07
      39.   To Sally Cooperman, #19 21:11  |  Tel Aviv resident 06/12/07
      40.   #25 Ben Jabo 21:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/07
      41.   Some Courage to Report from Enemy Territory 21:56  |  Efox 06/12/07
      42.   re: Phil 22:00  |  Efox 06/12/07
      43.   re: Rami 22:05  |  Efox 06/12/07
      44.   re: Kevin 22:07  |  Efox 06/12/07
      45.   #25 Ben jabo 22:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/07
      46.   Freedom 22:11  |  Cheops 06/12/07
      47.   #23 Phil 22:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/07
      48.   #15 Ben Jabo: I know 22:23  |  Kevin 06/12/07
      49.   #31 Chris 22:39  |  Phil 06/12/07
      50.   #32 Efox: Tell me where? 22:53  |  Kevin 06/12/07
      51.   Margie in Tel Aviv...prisoners in Isreali Jails 22:54  |  Steve 06/12/07
      52.   Slimy journalists 23:04  |  Ricardo 06/12/07
      53.   #42 Phil 23:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/07
      54.   Margie in Tel Aviv 23:21  |  christa 06/12/07
      55.   #53 Chris 23:29  |  Phil 06/12/07
      56.   How absolutely stupid in this day and age 00:35  |  Dutch 07/12/07
      57.   #45 Linthwaite - Your opinions are valueless 00:49  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      58.   #53 Linthwaite 00:55  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      59.   #51 Steve MN - my pretend Jew 01:01  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      60.   #52 Ricardo - No need to hang them 01:03  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      61.   that takes serious guts... 01:07  |  don 07/12/07
      62.   Ahlan ou sahlan 01:19  |  A Lebanese 07/12/07
      63.   irresposable "mamzers" 01:44  |  JG 07/12/07
      64.   #30 So called peacemaker margie lies again 01:44  |  Labhras 07/12/07
      65.   No Freedom of Press or Speech here - What democracy? 01:59  |  Rick 07/12/07
      66.   #56 Ben Jabo 02:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/12/07
      67.   #51, there are actually on 8,700 02:24  |  Danny 07/12/07
      68.   I second a Lebanese #61 02:29  |  I.A. 07/12/07
      69.   #63, ah but there aren`t 02:33  |  Danny 07/12/07
      70.   To Yishai Kohen of YeShA 02:51  |  YH 07/12/07
      71.   #65 Rick - TX 03:04  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      72.   #69 YH 03:11  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      73.   Shame on Alon Shahrabani 03:17  |  Dutch 07/12/07
      74.   I come from a country which gave up 04:04  |  Mark Lincoln 07/12/07
      75.   no. 59 Ben Jabo 04:56  |  Steve 07/12/07
      76.   Mark Lincoln #74 09:01  |  S 07/12/07
      77.   Israeli Journalists 09:16  |  Conny Mus 07/12/07
      78.   A sad Day for Democracy and Freedom 11:35  |  ideal 07/12/07
      79.   Mark, we have a free press 17:05  |  Danny 07/12/07
      80.   I was born in the UK, live in Israel can I not go 20:58  |  L A 07/12/07
      81.   travel to enemy states 23:02  |  amg 07/12/07
      82.   #75 Steve - Minneapolis 23:26  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      83.   #80 LA Israel/UK 23:29  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07
      84.   #66 Linthwaite 00:08  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      85.   Linthwaite - BTW - BULListic stuck her nose in 00:13  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      86.   Mark Lincoln #74 request 01:23  |  dana 08/12/07
      87.   Mus #77 01:49  |  jjvanka 08/12/07
      88.   #85 Conny Mus - Jerusalem 02:28  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      89.   Mark Lincoln - another example 04:10  |  dana 08/12/07
      90.   Treason! 05:44  |  Gordon 08/12/07
      91.   #83 LA Israel/UK. So I can go to Cuba. Fly to 06:29  |  L A 08/12/07
      92.   Response to Peter SM 06:51  |  Victor 08/12/07
      93.   #91 LA 12:42  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      94.   #90 Gordon BC 12:45  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      95.   No different than Tennanbaum 12:57  |  Ed 08/12/07
      96.   # 93 Because you have to leave Israel on an Israeli 15:01  |  L A 08/12/07
      97.   #96 2nd TRY LA 18:54  |  * BEN JABO 09/12/07
      98.   why i don`t get israeli citzenship 08:08  |  sam 10/12/07
      99.   #98 Sam - could there be another problem 18:38  |  * BEN JABO 10/12/07
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