This isn't just a war for my freedom but for Israel's image

Why would Paul Freedman believe the 2,000 documents story?

You state targeted assassinations are not against innocents, but against members of islamic jihad. I would appreciate your furnishing documentation of their not being innocents. Or is it that any Palestinian to you is a fair target, and that only Jews in Israel are entitled to legal rights?

Scan those documents, make a torrent of them, upload it to the Internet at large and wikileaks specifically. A brave woman faces life in prison for those documents in your hands. If they show what some say they do, then you owe the world the truth.

Some of the things going on in the USA are inexcusable. Pointing at them, however, in no way justifies other inexcusable things happening in Israel - you only try to distract attention by attacking someone else. For shame. On the issue at hand, the "targetted assassinations" are not the only issue, though that is part of it - the documents produced by the IDF whistleblower showed that not only was the military deliberately killing *accused* terrorists without trial and contrary to the law and the explicit directive of the high court, but also others, innocent bystanders who merely happened to be in the area. Civilised nations have trials before punishment for a reason - accusations are often false. But even if we forget that issue entirely, the murder of innocent bystanders to ensure there are no witnesses is clearly wrong, and equally clearly evidence of "mens rea."

from the perspective of democracy having a law that allows national security letters, accompanied by super gag orders, is much worse than an occasional violation of a court order. in the first instance, the entire political system approves that which would normally be illegal. these "letters," as i have found out, affect hundreds of thousands. wiretrapping without judicial supervision is much worse. the trageted assassinations in the wb were not against "innocents," but against members of islamic jihad. contrary to your self serving claims, the us routinely targets terrorists and in the process kills civilians. you are not wise in your accusations against israel. it forces me to criticise the us, which normally i would not do.

Sorry I don't have time to read 178 responses, but I'm behind you, Blau. This is about free speech, a principle sacred to democracy.

As ill-conceived as the National Security letters might be, they are part of the black letter law of the US and have not yet been overturned by the courts. That black letter law is highly controversial, too. In this case, your have an express court order that is being defied and innocents being killed without remorse or conscience. That was exposed and you want the head of the person who exposed it, not the person ordering the deaths of innocents if they are inconvenient. The stuff the US is doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan is subject to review and is constantly reviewed by Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many of the Pakistani targets are designated by Pakistan's government. And Nixon went after the NY Times and Dan Ellsberg just like Shin Bet is going after Uri Blau, Haaretz and Anat Kam. Nixon lost after doing much damage to the United States.

you have very poor understanding of the issues involved. the theft of thousands of secret military documents is not the act of someone who believes in democracy. any such theft in the us or any other country would result in serious charges. furthermore, the us law, such as the patriot act, in fact legalises acts that mark criticises in israel. targeted assassinations are legal under us law, as are wiretrappings without any judicial supervision.

israel is not any less democratic than the us. israel does not have national security letters issued to hunderds of thousands without judicial supervision. targeted assassinations are a routine matter for the us, and it is practiced without judicial supervision. the press in israel is much freer than the press in the us. criticism of leaders, civilian and military, is routine.

Gee, American slang: "Whatever floats your boat". I'm gonna use that, socially and in my work. Ha! We Dutch can 't think of anything else then water by the way but we always did lack imagination. Israel's boat nowadays often looks more like an ark in the desert sand, waiting for the disaster to come down from the skies before it can float to an unknown fate. Let us hope it does not happen. I find it sad and worrying that you have to explain to people with brains here that the rules and checks and balances of true democacry and true rule of law can only exist by consequent and non compromising enforcement without exception. That corruption of rule of law and democratic foundations always triggers in a rotting process ending in loss of freedom, civil rights, trust, optimism and more good things. But keep up the good work, espescially if it makes your boat float. Regards.

The Rule of Law doesn't work in a democracy where the government ignores it. If you don't want Israel to be a democracy, that is your choice. We had that choice once in the US and chose democracy over the tyranny of secrecy laws. We are looking at that choice in the near future again. But hey. whatever floats your boat.

If a journalist uncovers some illegal secret activity that needs to be examined by a court of law he may be justified in disclosing it. In this case the Israeli court was already involved and therefore there was no purpose served. Neither stealing nor accepting 2,000 confidential documents is acceptable.

Every human life is sacred. Honesty, transparency, and the rule of law are priceless.

He should know by now that Israel's state organs don't give a damn about court rulings and their own laws.

looking on a picture of olmert on haaretz just now i see a sad old man who has lost the will to fight where he was once a strong and decisive individual. wha a pity that those who for all their faults arre absolute patriots and love israel have to be treated in this fashion.

Are you conducting a one man"Psychological war" against other readers because you don't have a clue about the cultural differences between the US, Israel and the Palestinians? To those of us who experienced all three, your comments are too "common" if not "simple". Israel is doing what it needs to do to survive. Some would say that the fact that such a small country survived this long against so many is a miracle. Just think about what it takes to deal with the people who brought to this world the suicide bomber idea! People who will kill you or your family whenever they can without thinking twice...you experienced it in 9/11 and what did you do so far successfully to stop it?

the girl stole over 2,000 highly classified military documents while being a soldier in the office of the head of central command. the issue is not about the one case of disregard of high court ruling. nor were there any innocents killed. they were leaders of islamic jihad, a terror organisation so listed by us, eu, un. the issue is the theft of thousands of documents which relate to order of battles, strategy, personnel identification. the issue is where are these documents now. the question to you is why is the fbi allowed to issue hundreds of thousands of national security letters without anyone knowing about it. why are you not complaining about that.

Definitely medical. LOL.

Dino wrote "I would too, if he gave away secrets like disposition of IDF forces, " Dino that is what is contained in the papers still in uri blau's possession. He is not being charged with publishing the alleged IDF violation of the courts order. He is a danger to Israel as long as he keeps these papers.

uri blau Now that you are in Britain find out how many years in prison you would get, if you were a British journalist and had top secret papers in your possession. Your phony claim of journalists' rights is pitiful.

Well said 128. However if I were him I wouldnt go back to Israel either. I hope he stays safe.

Is your cluelessness intentional or a medical condition? The government has no respect for the rulings of its own courts and has proceeded to lie and lie and lie and kill innocents and then lie. And you defend the government's lawlessness and lies. The Israeli government is acting just like the Nixon administration and you are defending its lawlessness.

What is at stake here is not just the image of Israel, but the soul and future of Israel. The unlawful actions of the military put the state at great risk and that risk increases the longer they are tolerated. The disgraceful treatment of the jewish heros who brought the story to the attention of the Israeli public only confirms the worst accusations of our enemies and strengthens anti-semitism worldwide. "Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so shall they not be a stumbling block of iniquity unto you."

.....Who says so? Ooooooolmert, that`s who.

Hey Uri, look at it this way. You may have encouraged a naive young woman to illegally pass state secrets to you, and it may lead to her serving time in jail, but you'll be a hero in the UK. You can probably get yourself a regular column in the Guardian.

Knowing that the IDF had their data being compromised, not knowing if details on the orders would eventually reach Goldstone, Israel was in a position where IDF statements regarding Gaza war crime accusations faced the threat of being exposed as false statements, with evidence based on the IDF's own files.

Well done Uri for finally telling people what is really going on in this country and not the manufactured Propoganda that the likes of Eli Yishai and Liberman are so keen to promote.

Uri, you knowingly received and published stolen classified military documents. In any free and democratic country in the world you would be on trial for a severe criminal offense. So what are you complaning about?

I don't have a right to know what troops are positioned where and when, their tacticts to catch terrorists, etc. However, I do have a rigt to know when orders are issued that are illegal by all norms, including our own. I do have a right to know if our children are asked to break the law. From what I understand the IDF approved illegal orders at highest level which is a grave abuse of the power given to them. Such filth must be brought to daylight or I shall no longer call this country a democracy.

Taking classified documents and diseminating them beyond the apprpriate authorities is a criminal act in a democracy. Accepting such documents is alos a criminal act. A democratic government, and Israel is one, has a series of checks and balances built into the government for "whistle blowing." Those chammels were not used here. Now there is a difference between writing about such documents and exposing the documents, especially when the written article does not expose state secrets. Uri Blau and anat Kamm have committed treason and should face the consequences. I do not claim to understand the nuances enough to state whether Haaretz also committed treason, is an accessory, or may be considered to have reported on the act of treason. This case crosses all boundries of moral behavior. There is an office in Israel for reviewing the materail, that office has been couragoues, and fair. That is the proper venue, not a newspaper.

If the press cannot publish law breaking activities by state organs then we don't need a press anymore.

To all those who are saying 'don't break the law' or 'come back and face the music' should also bear in mind that the last guy who blew a whistle in Israel was kidnapped and locked up for at least 15 years because he mentioned that Israel has nuclear weapons. Now we have proof that the IDF was explicitly ordering assassinations and you lot are up in arms that this reporter has breached Israeli security. This is what 'in the publics interest' is all about, not only for Israel but for every other country around the world. The world now knows something that Israel prefer to get away with illegally thanks to people like this. Every country needs people like this - even we had our expenses leak whistleblower. Well done.

Why do any details on this connection still getting censored? Did Netanyahu and Barak lie to us?

Do you seriously think a Journalist should withhold information about crimes committed by state organs? In particular, when the only reason for giving it a security stamp is not security but cover-up for a crime, with IDF officers fully knowing they breach the law.

What's a High Court anyway, they are lefties and they don't kill terrorists so they should shut up, right? After all, the fighting and killing state of Israel is not a nation of wimps that will let the rule of law prohibit them to execute terrorists if nescessary. Terrorism, now that is something that is worse then just illegal, right? I hope Israel will use those ordered US Hercules troop transport planes soon to dump drugged lefties in the sea, you know, those Jewish traitors that stand in the way of killing terrorists. And every Pal is a terrorist, everybody knows that. And every Arab for that. And Israel is the only democratic nation in the ME with a moral army, right? Everybody knows that. So support your army no matter what. Don't be a sissy-leftist-traitor that cares about rule of law, High Courts, checks and balances, civil rights and so. Look where that led to in the US: Bama. Need I say more?

Nixon was morally by far better. He didn't try to sell to the public Watergate by the right to information act. BTW, the Watergate documents weren't classified documents at all! Haaretz has a kind of twisted morale and will have to take consequences together with Mr. Blau, sofar it doesn't distance itself from his methods. 2200 stolen documents: it means 2190 or so documents unrelated to any kind of public relevant information, leaving still untouched the question whether the story concerning Mr. Blau's extralegal executions has or has not any reality basis.

This guy is just plain wrong. If the people in the government who are in charge of security deem that what you want to disseminate constitutes a threat to state security then you don't print it. This is not your decision to make. If you don't like that policy then next time elect a government which has a point of view that is in line with your point of view.

Why is everyone commenting on this story. This has nothing to do with democracy . It is a simple case of treason. Every country has top scret documents thta are not available to the public.So what's the big deal trying to justify Uri's actions. They should both be in prison for life.

17:49 Unknown men break into Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen`s car, steal phone (Haaretz) These men must have been journalists! First they accept classified documents from others, then they start small by stealing them from cars, and before you know it they will break into police buildings and army bases and rob the documents. Better put them in jail while they still think small, and throw away the key.

As described here and by Akiva Eldar, Israeli law is way too broad when describing the mere possession of classified information as "espionage", even when the possessor is a journalist who had the information leaked to him so that he can expose some wrongdoing or a malfunction of the system. Journalism is essential in helping keep governmental systems cleansed on a continuous basis. The obvious solution to this is to explicitly EXCLUDE journalists from this part of the law (as in the US), provided they don't give the information to others or publish it abroad, but only publish it in Israel and subject to the military censor's requirements. Incidentally, the leakers of the information should be subject to all existing laws. I don't feel sorry for Anat Kamm. She had the option of providing the documents to the State Comptroller, or the Attorney General, or the President of the Supreme Court, and they would have started a serious investigation of the matter. I hope such criminal investigation of IDF officers involved in illegal assassination still takes place.

Dear Mr. Blau, it is obvious you have got bulk documents from Mrs. Kamm (perhaps even acquired them?). That means, neither you nor Mrs. Kamm suspected the existence of some specific documents allegedly pertaining to a scandalous order to execute terrorists (as you put it) among the stolen documents. You took the stolen documents simply to promote your personal career, should there be any useful information within. The same for Mrs. Kamm. She neither knew about a specific scandal nor found a ground to turn all documents to the press, except for promoting her career. Otherwise, she would have offered you just documents referring this specific allegation concerning extralegal liquidation or she would have written herself an article about this. I'ld call this a reverse Watergate scandal, where journalists reward robbers for stolen documents. In this line of thought, was Nixon an idealist too. He caused Watergate just to inform the public about scandalous facts around the democrats.

Sometimes when I hear people talking, no matter whether they are leftists or rightists, talking in an apodictic tone, telling truths which they make appear as the only ones available, pushing away all different experiences, letting no place for doubt or conciliation, occasionally praising themselves for their "clear speech" and despising others as postmodernist mollycoddles, when I see such lack of awareness of our social dimensions and their own limits of grasp, or let it just be simple misantropism, then I think: "TO HELL WITH FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION! SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" How likeable Israel still appears as a state if top secret documents can be taken away by its soldiering citizens. That's unthinkable in Germany...

What a wonderful chance to show us what kind of society Israel mainly strives to be: a society dominated by wise, gentile and civilized people in a somewhat harsh environment or a society taken over by chauvinistic nationalism, violence and unrestricted selfishness. Still, I guess we in the north would have a less pleasant society and less pleasant citizens if we were deeply involved in conflicts. Even without being it, we have some unpleasant and intolerant movements in our midst, who regrettably have some negative influence on our society and our minds.

This is not about freedom, this is about the rule of law and the security of Israeli citizens. Stealing classified documents is forbidden all across the world and not only in Israel. Journalists cannot break the laws to satisfy their ideology. Mr Blau must go back to Israel and accept to be sent to jail for his crime. Any ordinary citizen stealing or publishing these documents will be already jailed. Not jailing Mr Blau will tarnish the world image of Israel and will prove that Israel is a weak and irrelevant country.

u think any army can survive if not ruthless and feared when needs to be..... this isnt mickey mouse cartoon

yeah and ? even a muppet understands why israel needs to be highly militarised.

use yr brains, cooperate and give the authorities back the information stolen. Put yr hands up and shut up and go home and get this whole mess over and done with. Israel like any other country has a duty to protect herself. you are just a little boy journalist, wet behind the ears.... use yr brains.

I am ashamed to be subscriber of Haaretz following the compaign of support of this pseudo democracy push.

As described here and by Akiva Eldar, Israeli law is way too broad when describing the mere possession of classified information as "espionage", even when the possessor is a journalist who had the information leaked to him so that he can expose some wrongdoing or a malfunction of the system. Journalism is essential in helping keep governmental systems cleansed on a continuous basis. The obvious solution to this is to explicitly EXCLUDE journalists from this part of the law (as in the US), provided they don't give the information to others or publish it abroad, but only publish it in Israel and subject to the military censor's requirements. Incidentally, the leakers of the information should be subject to all existing laws. I don't feel sorry for Anat Kamm. She had the option of providing the documents to the State Comptroller, or the Attorney General, or the President of the Supreme Court, and they would have started a serious investigation of the matter. I hope such criminal investigation of IDF officers involved in illegal assassination still takes place.

The fact you can say so many things about Israel. Bad things- you and the other people who push for knowledge- who think they understand this democracy so much and say it is wrong and keep bashing Israel in the media - Thats the fact the democracy here is really fine. Since nothing happens to you- your opinion is always heard.

i wonder if is sensitive enough to be a good journalist.

many in israel do not have enough to live on.many see their childern do without. the nations of europe and the united states have now returned to blaming the jews for their troubles. the syrians may attack us and hizballah has 45000 missiles aimed at us.the gaza people wish to harm the nation.and america harrasses us. more trouble then we can deal with you may think.do we amongst all this need the self righteous explanations of mr uri blau

"This affair is a real disaster for the army and for everyone else". Surely, Arieka the real disaster befell on the Palestinians whose lives were taken? Any thoughts for them?

Fight for Israel's image? What an idiot! For the past 2,000 years the Jewish image has been set by the Church and 622 years on by another group called Muslims. We have been 'Dhimmied' to use the Arab term,from that time on and have acted accordingly. Powerless to determine our own future,seemingly always a scapegoat.Now that we can determine our future it is those 'Dhimmizing' forces that have to get used to it not the other way around. They have had at least 1,400-2,000 years to demonize. Hopefully it will take less to turn it around, though the Vatican still prays for Jewish conversions and the Muslims still deny Jewish existence in Jerusalem. Time baby time...maybe.Blau should live in the West a bit and discover the hypoChristy of it.

1 yes you are right you are only doing your job. 2 it is also true that our brethren very young soldiers put themselves in the line of fire almost every day.their families unable to have any peace while their sons are in danger. 3 there is a spring in your step a certain arrogance in the way you conduct yourself and in your words that tell me you have no sensitivity and lack all feelings for anyone other then yourself,

17:49 Unknown men break into Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen`s car, steal phone (Haaretz) These men must have been journalists! First they accept classified documents from others, then they start small by stealing them from cars, and before you know it they will break into police buildings and army bases and rob the documents. Better put them in jail while they still think small, and throw away the key.

If he hasn't anything to hide, he should be on the next plane and return to Israel.

You forget Uri STILL HOLD documents that contain sensitive info about the army, NOT JUST the alleged crimes.

As described here, and by Akiva Eldar, journalists who do their job and attempt to expose improper procedures or behavior by various Israeli security services become "spies" according to a way-too-broad espionage law, which makes mere possession of classified information a crime. The work of the journalist is important, and essential for cleansing the system on a continuous basis. The obvious solution in the "espionage" case is to EXCLUDE journalists from the law (as in the US), provided that they only publish the classified material in Israel, not abroad, and subject to censorship regulations. I feel sorry for Blau, not for Anat Kamm. She should have given her material to the State Comptroller, or the Attorney General, or the President of the Supreme Court. She had various options to behave lawfully.

The JAMES BOND of Israel..is UPSET... Mr. Hasson can't play this role any more..He is getting and is acting like a MAFIA Godfather.. BULLYING Haartez and Uri.....is OLD fashion Blackmail that will not work anymore..

Uri Blau energized and confirmed Goldstone's report and that is what Israeli leaders don't want.

17:49 Unknown men break into Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen`s car, steal phone (Haaretz) These men must have been journalists! First they accept classified documents from others, then they start small by stealing them from cars, and before you know it they will break into police buildings and army bases and rob the documents. Better put them in jail while they still think small, and throw away the key.

That Mr blau is another Vanunu, or some one who could sell this information for a lot of money to our enemies, and that as a result of this information I or you would lose our children or grand children, what guarantee did she have. She could have put her grivances before the army controler or before Bagats if she was so concerned. She is not naive at all, I think she did it because she wanted revenge for not making the Pilots course and to enhance her reporters reputation.This affair is a real disaster for the army and for everyone else.

I'm sure that your "duty" as a journalist - to provide people with the best tools to judge and understand the goings-on around them - will be a great comfort as your pave the road to our deaths. Are you sure you want so much blood on your hands? I'm canceling my subscription.

To Rudolf from Switzerland...you're right for Switzerland but not for Israel unless your knowledge about this country's security problems comes from such brillant journalist as Uri Blau who needs to learn what freedom of press and democracy means to those who have better information and experience about the world's morality and justice. His ideological deformation makes him pathetic, self pitying imbecile using cheap arguments of "freedom"... of keeping 1941 top secrets stolen documents in violating his own contractual duty (he signed a deal with Shabak) to give them back to its rightfull owner. Surprise, surprise they searched them in his own, "private" appartment while he's in exile. Abstention in writing about those facts in the above paper accounts to intentional desinformation. He could have used at least his lawyers distorted interpretations of its terms; the precise meaning of "documents endangering his country's soldiers and citizens".Give them back and then defend yourself.

Many here tell how Mr. Blau gave away Israel's secrets, and condemn him for it. I would too, if he gave away secrets like disposition of IDF forces, number and placement of 'alleged' Israeli nuclear warheads etc. In short, something that could jepordise the State. But, what this man brought to light is a illegal, shameful operation of indiscriminate assassinations, without any thought of judicial prosecution, or court proceedings against targeted individuals. That is not a state secret. That is dirt! A clandestine operation for which, if it were discovered in any democratic country(and Israel presents itself as such), public would scream blood of those who approved it. Yet, all we see here is that majority of Israelis doesn't care what was uncovered, but that it was uncovered. As long as it was hidden it was ok. So if I was Uri Blau, I too would hide in England. How could anyone trust the courts of a country that approves assasination missions? Would any of you submit to such a court?

this is not a war for israel's image but first of all for your own image and probably also for the image of ha'aretz. by the way: in novels as you've desbribed them, the hero (aka you yourself) is first of all eager to help the scapegoat (aka anat kam) and to help justice. unfortunately i cannot see this in your case. instead of returning home and clearing things up, you hide in london and leave anat kam stewing in her own juice. so, if you are indeed innocent in this affair, return home and put all papers on the table. this would help your image and the one of your boss (aka haaretz), too, and at the end it would help also israel's image for which you fight according to your own words.

Carl von Ossietzky, pacifist, whistleblower, peace prize laureate, executed by the nazis, Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon papers, Tom Glen disclosing the My Lai massacre, Sherron Watkins blowing the whistle on Enron.....Uri Blau, Anat Kam. A row of heros. Thank God for people with a conscience, the ability to see the difference between right and wrong. The real traitors to their country are the ones that insist on doing their dirty little deeds in secret. Free Anat Kam!

1 all states keep secrets including the usa which hides documents for thirty yeras before releasing them. 2 does the cia advertise its killings freely? 3 does the usa rush to tell the world that it has targetted and killed terrorists. 4 before you mention tu qoque let me add those who are without sin......

are out in force defending the government of the aparthaid state against the few brave souls who dare to think otherwise, Vanunu, Finkelstein, and now Uri Blau. more disgusting shows to come.

It is amazing how Blau and the readers do not appreciate the seriousiness of the act of stealing and HOLDING goods that do not belong to you, IRRESPECTIVE THE REASONS. The matter should be brought to the court of law. PRONTO as otherwise we will have other " democracy lovers " that will start appropriating others ' documents!!

this has no ressemblance whatever to the illegal war in cambodia. this is a case of illegal copying and theft of highly classified military documnets and their equally illegal receipt and retention by blau. if blau's only crime had been the disclosure of a certain malfeasance in tzahal, he would not be in such trouble. however, he took receipt of highly classified document which contain orders of battles, strategy, officer identification, and more. what he has in his possession can only harm the state.

What a ball the regulars - Roo, Tony Price, Tony Silver, Chris Linthwaite, etc, have on this thread, and Israelis like me, of different opinion are totally rejected from all 3 different articles on this subject - by Akiva, Gideon and the editor ...and no, I didn't write to you, my problem is with Miss Kam...

No freedom for those who hold on to stolen goods.

Uri Blau and Anat Kam have done nothing else but to inform the Israeli public with official documents as proof of what the Palestinians have always known and what the rest of the world has been witnessing on You Tube. It is a shock for the average Israeli because they have willingly kept a blind eye on the atrocities perpetrated in the occupied territories. Know they know. But some of them still persist in denying the obvious reality.

So what are you trying to tell me Uri? I should thank you for compromising my security so that you and Ms. Kamm can get your 15 minutes of fame? It is up to the courts to decide guilt or innocence not the press. Just like the Palestinian boy killed by the IDF (as eagerly reported in the press) who was resurrected, I take a rather cynical view of your profession. You have proved me right.

is that Ana Kam and Uri Blau both are far more patriotic in their actions of wanting to ensure that Israel's brutality is kept under check by external scrutiny than the people who who desperately want these exposees stopped. I am sure that is why Haaretz is so widely read round the world by Jews and non-Jews alike, as a source of open-minded journalism. One day, the grumblers on this column will understand that, but at the moment their knowledge of historical examples is too flimsy.

It seems the same types defended Richard Nixon as those calling for the head of Uri Blau and Anat Kam. The NVA knew about the US bombing and war in Cambodia. The US public didn't. When the Pentagon Papers were made public, the cat was out of the bag. The US had greatly expanded the Vietnam war, without the public's or Congress' knowledge. Now the Israeli public knows how much respect the IDF has for rule of law, NONE, if its inconvenient or if Palestinian innocent bystanders might be in the way. This is not convenient for Netanyahu or any other Israeli politician. So Shin Bet and the establishment go after the people that let the cat out of the bag. The Palestinians already knew, only the Israeli public (and the Americans) were in the dark. So by all means, stand up for Richard Nixon (Netanyahu and his government, Shin Bet and the IDF liars). Who cares about Rule of Law anyway? It's just a leftist plot, right?

Uri Blau, Anat Kam and Haaretz should be investigated prosecuted and condemned to fines and jail terms or even closure if Haaretz has been proven to have instructed Kam to steal IDF documents. It is very simple any democratic country cannot allow a newspaper to publish stolen documents. We do not talk about 1 or 2 documents but 2,000!!! Moreover 700 were considered top secret!!! Anat Kam will serve her jail term and so will Uri Blau but now we should wonder what did Haaretz know about all of this!!! I think Haaretz was a complicit in this. Uri you do not defend democracy by being a coward and smear your own state and people!!! Come back to Israel come clean about your treason and tell who assisted you in your crime and then we can discuss democracy!! Democracy means we will not torture nor murder you like in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza or the PA areas. No we will just prosecute you and send you to jail that is what democracy is about like in the USA and Holland.

....and the limits ought not be set by the reporters or the media itself. Israel is a country at war. Compromising Israel's security puts ALL of its people in jeopardy. Mr. Blau and Ms. Kamm, who stole the 2,000 pages of documents taht did not belong to her, ought to be put on trial immediately.

The IDF trying to coverup the cold-blooded murder of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers who were ordered to do so by their superiors.

Many years ago, my mother told me that a jounalist will sell his mother for a good story. For some reason Uri brought this memory back!

isreal is no better a democracy than iran, infact, iran has better journalism there than israel, a light unto nations, sure sure, keep going haaretz, i don't read the other biased papers around, yours has equal amounts and thats more democratic than any other papers, wether i like it or not.

Israel is getting deeper into its bunker mentality, paranoia, militarism, self-righteousness, and hubris. It has few friends and they are becoming fewer. It may be too late to save the "state," for I shall not call it a "democracy" any longer.

be faulted for telling the truth? If he were my kid, I should think I would be very proud. I feel sorry that Uri has suffered from the actions of his countrymen.

This is all about naive young journalists turning into ambitious self interested career seekers... turning into criminals! And this discussion has nothing to do of freedom of speech or even any State wrong doing. Haaretz is trying to justify Kam's crimes to save their own reputation (and make us believe they are not part of Kam's crimes). Enough with hypocrisy! Haaretz: You are not different than the populist low politicians you love to criticize!!!! And it seems you are all on the same side.... your own!!!! PS: Will Haaretz give me freedom of speech?

Uri wants to help Israel by harming Israel as much as possible! That's an amazing technique.

There are things that absolutely MUST be kept secret. Codes, Cyphers, War Plans, Permissive Action Links, stuff that could endanger the nation. There are many other things which are kept secret only because they are embarrassing. Many, many, more things kept secret because it would be inconvenient than because it is necessary.

In any democratic country the action of Uri Blau and Anat Kam would be treated as high treason. Who are Uri, Anat and Haaretz trying to fool. To steal documents containing sensitive information useful for the protection of the State of Israel and its citizen, for the purpose of exposing them in the name of democracy does not sound logical by any account. It is akin to Uri, Anat and Haaretz wanting to shoot me in the head should they find that I do not toe their line! It amazes me that such people and organization invoke the name of "democracy" and "image of Israel" to defend their criminal actions. They should thank their stars that they are in democratic Israel and not one of those dictatorships like Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. If they are so naive so as to not realise that they live in the only true democracy in the Middle East and should avoid any situation that could lead to its destruction then Israel is in deep trouble dealing with such rebellious Jews.

When releasing information that is known to cause harm to the security of ones own country , it is an act of treason, period. Feeling good about it,........ the censor wont allow the word I will use for that person

Nothing like a dose of self-serving rationalization to deny one's bad behaviour.

The progressive intelligentsia who arrogate to their own self-righteous convictions sovereign rights as if they were states might wake up and smell the coffee--the latest defendant has the same lawyer as Vanunu and the same ideological rationalization for breaking state secrets. Whether in Israel or the United States or elsewhere compromising top secret military documents is a serious criminal offense. It is arguably, in any and all of these countries, treason.

The story resembles a case in Germany where the Secretary of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is forced to amend a law that will protect journalists from being persecuted for publishing classified material, even if they only want to show defaults in the system. Now who are the mystery-mongers actually afraid of? According to spy-novels writer Eric Ambler it is not the "enemy" but the public. Not surprislingly for the Middle East the journalist is inflated to a "spy". Here everything is confident - which reminds me of the Egyptian policeman reprimanding a photographing tourist: "Sis army camel - verry secret!"

In the same manner as the US demanded craven subservience from its press corps and got it over warrantless wiretapping [re: the N.Y.T]and unquestioning support on WMD's in Iraq and got that too, Israel seeks to play the security card in order to intimidate those with a conscience. Is Anat Kam a slimline version of Daniel Ellsberg [of Pentagon Papers fame]? As with Ellsberg, maybe she serves the cause of justice and morality and places that ahead of subservience and blind loyalty to the state machinery under the ever expanding rubric of national security.

all this shows how weak and vulnerable Israel really is. nothing happenes in Israel that the american intelligence service doesnt know. n o t h i n g! unfortunately all this shows the self destructive nature in the jewish mind.sad, sad but true. lets not weep over anat or uri, lets weep over the stupidity of the jews, including this newspaper and many of its readers.

Anat acted as a spy against her own country. Nothing from the army documents should be made public without explicit order to do so, or there is a court decision for the publication. It has nothing to do with a free speech. Besides this, -Don't steal! Nobody cancelled this commandment. Such actions would be prosecuted in all countries. Uri Blau was helping in illegal actions. They both could or made harm to peoples lifes. It's not the way a good journalism should be done in any case. Even business/commercial secrets are not allowed to be stolen and publicised. Leave alone military. It's sad that these two people committed the crime. PS. Only enemies want to know military secrets. Normal citizens of the country are not interested in those secrets. Normal people would informed police about the finding of classified documents.

...15 minutes of glory. Love

The freedom of speach is not the freedom to sell you country to our enemy. Free speach and freedom of press, supposed to help the state operate better by work according to democracy. it's not suposed to help our enemy to destroy us... it's was your duty to do the right balancing and instade, you ignored and published the document. a proper state can't allow herself to let a journalist hold 2200 top secret documents, and to publish them on the news paper while it can put the state security in danger. you did wrong ! try to get used to it !!!

Is it my imagination, or is no one acknowledging that Mr. Blau has exposed criminal activity on the part of the military? Don't the leaked documents indicate non-compliance with a supreme court halt to extra-judicial killing? I mean, we can have a discussion as to whether these leaks will have tangible repercussions for Israeli security, but, I think the point is that if you guys want to preserve the authority (and independence) of your judicial system, you ought to pay attention to whistle-blowers like him.

Perverse is Blau's idea of democracy. The majority of Israel is appalled by him. Other democracies do not allow for the undermining of their countries-the USA has just announced that their terrorist citizen is a target for assassination in Pakistan. Let Blau test his theories on democracy by returning to Israel.

Cipora Julianna Kohn, Absolute Sweden and other enablers, think that the revelation of the contents of Israeli army papers documenting illegal Israeli policies and actions poses an existential threat. Nobody has a crystal ball, so to speak, but enough evidence of blatant Israeli contraventions of both international and--as it has become clear--Israeli law have been amassed to suggest that such contraventions might very well constitute the greatest existential threat that our people face nowadays. In any event, what would Jewish history look like if it made sense to argue that the only problem with atrocities, large and small, is that they have come to light?

It's human nature to fight for one's survival,no matter what damage or harm it can cause others.(in your opinion?) And here the other person's point of view,whether of an individual or country will at the best play a secondry role. Your basic argument about the people's right to information,lacks creditability if it is founded on theft,robbery or coercion. In this case,Anat Kam betrayed the trust given to her & stole over 2,000 documents & handed them over to a newspaper,( to a journalist). The material,under no circumstances should be in the possession of an individual,for a number of reasons; It could be stolen,it could fall into the hands of the enemy,it could be sold for a large sum of money,etc. There is no proof that you,Blau, have all the 2,000 documents & that you might want to sell them or hand them over to..... But there is always suspicion,lurking around. Does the name Vanunu enter your mind ?

Has always been and will remain to be Israel must keep its image up as 1.being a victim and 2. Being a democracy. When you prove them both to be merely shams, you are going to piss a lot of people off, especially the right wingers who work so hard to keep up these appearances.

Funny, but none of these leftists appear to be calling for the arrest and trial of the Palestinians responsible for the murders of innocent Israeli civilians. The Palestinian propaganda machine scores another victory here, again diverting attention away from the Palestinian war criminals. The Israeli left, whatever remains of it, is still blind to the fact that all their weeping and wailing about democracy and human rights is making the Palestinians roll on the floor laughing. Why? Because the Palestinians have no equivalent of "Peace Now". The Palestinians have no "Association for Civil Rights in Palestine". The Palestinians do not believe in universal human rights, which is why they have a policy to target Israeli civilians for assassination. They laugh, because nobody is holding them to account for their crimes. The Palestinians are getting away with murder, and the Uri Blaus of the Israeli media world simply don't care. Blau is not doing his job.

When you say a criminal should be put in jail, so you include government figures who are using government resources to murder people? If not, why not?

between freedom of the press and the security of his country. Nothing more needs to be said. Now we wait to hear all the details and then we can judge.

If Israel's secrets include its officials murdering people and using secrecy to get away with it, shouldn't the public be informed? Please give a reason why the public shouldn't know about this?

well said Malfred....and to Moshe # 47 all I can say is that you have no idea what a democracy is ....perhaps you should go and live in one of the Arab countries and then let's hear your opinion.

well said Malfred....and to Moshe # 47 all I can say is that you have no idea what a democracy is ....perhaps you should go and live in one of the Arab countries and then let's hear your opinion.

But hey, Israel's bad image is not a state secret - it's a reality and hiding the truth won't fix it.

Blau's wrapping himself in "democracy" is the last refuge of a scoundral. Who in the hell is he to lecture about "democracy"? He is a left wing reporter for a left wing newspaper. Big deal.

Stolen information is unlike stolen diamonds: once stolen, it cannot be returned. When making a deal with the Shin Bet, did not Haaretz understand that the main reason behind the Shin Bet desire to have those papers back was to help them identify and convict the whistleblower? In view of that, your ?legal agreement? with the Shin Bet, unenforceable as it is, comes out as an empty jest and a piece of hypocrisy. The security people promised you not to use the returned documents for their search ? did you for a moment believe them? Now the brave and principled girl will rot in prison.

but they understand what Israel is all about. Don't they? And I wouldn't worry about Israel's image too much. Those who still support it know perfectly well what it is they like about it. This sort of thing doesn't hurt at all. On the contrary...

sir, in my humble opinion uri blau is disingenious and manipulative.he want to save the country by publishing highly sensitive security docs.come on he clearly has a agenda.its a insult tomy inteligence.half truths are worse then lays. I REMIND EVERYBODY WHO IS EAGER TO LISTEN WE ARE AT WAR and for a long time to come. if we like it or not ilan

Kol hakavod Uri, keep on working, you have our full support..

you don't get? What about the fact, there has been no real spill of Israel state secretes by Anat Kam... various human rights groups and authors have been reporting the facts on the ground, Israel/Palestine/Lebanon, for decades. Does it worry you that young Israeli soldiers are often made scapegoats by the echelons of Zionist military elite every time a human rights group uncovers a brutal incident of Palestinian ethnic cleansing? If it doesn't worry you, then it should!

Anat acted as a spy against her own country. Nothing from the army documents should be made public without explicit order to do so, or there is a court decision for the publication. It has nothing to do with a free speech. Besides this, -Don't steal! Nobody cancelled this commandment. Such actions would be prosecuted in all countries. Uri Blau was helping in illegal actions. They both could or made harm to peoples lifes. It's not the way a good journalism should be done in any case. Even business/commercial secrets are not allowed to be stolen and publicised. Leave alone military. It's sad that these two people committed the crime. PS. Only enemies want to know military secrets. Normal citizens of the country are not interested in those secrets. Normal people would informed police about the finding of classified documents.

when you get killed by IDF then you`ll see why Hamas takes all these measures. i fixed that for you. its funny how words can play together.

Uri, if you are so right in this matter.Go home and make your case there.What are you afraid of?Is the government so corrupt and untrustworthy, are the courts so tainted with bias? Go home Uri, make your self rightous rant about freedom of speech, etc in front of the public whose security you compromised.If it is true that you did nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about.

... as expressed by the lawyers for Haaretz, Blau, and Kam seem to be that sometimes security classification is used to protect embarrassing information. Therefore who is to say that this was not one of these cases? Nobody? Aha! Therefore this WAS the case. But if Kam was uncovering an embarrassing malfeasance, why did she steal thousands of documents wholesale? Why is Blau still holding most of the documents? Hopefully, this will come out in court. In the meantime, I think Kam and Blau should be turned over to Gaza for safekeeping.

Posted: "If a state wants to call itself a democracy, the answer should be clear. Blau is not an IDF spokesman nor the state`s PR agent. He did exactly what a good Journalist is supposed to do: exposing the inconvinient truth." I agree with you but the Israeli government's version of the truth is only what the government says it is and if you question it, you are regarded as a traitor. Israel is not now and has never been a democracy.

The girl and the reporter are traitors to their country and endangered the lives of soldiers by releasing tactical plans. its not the place of these traitors to determine what is and is not justified as secret. Any wrongdoing can be addressed internally without releasing secrets to the enemy. It doesn't matter what was released; how is she any different than Pollard? You do the crime, you do the time.

Uri should go for the deal of surrendering documents in return for leniency. The published articles aren't the issue- it's the other docs that his "inside" co-conspirator Anat Kamm gave him. He is holding on to docs with military secrets expecting that they will someday give him a juicy story to publish. This is not courageous- it is treason. Uri, do you intend to remain hidden in exile and branded a traitor for the rest of your life? Make your best deal and return to face charges in an Israeli court.

with the Publitzer prize!

uri you are not a nice man.

we like to stay at home in safety while we pay others to fight our enemy.we tell ourselves that there is a way to fight without dirtying our hands.such a method of defense is a figment of our imagination. those who fight our wars atre forced to use all means to defeat the adversary.

to get back on track. Do they actually know how to read court orders or is their brain limited to military orders?!

1. I congratulate Mr. Blau and Haaretz newspaper for publishing their reports. 2. I don't beleive A. Kam is a spy nor I beleive she tried to inflict a damage to israel's security. This is just to put the stage up. Now, NO state crime was commited. Crime is commited by some personell who confuse the law with with their own particular way of thought. These people must be punished if caught. For example: if Diskin has given an order, unlawfully, without a permission of the state attorney Mazuz to enter Blau's flat- he should be charged and tried. If somebody gave unlawful orders of opening fire, despite the supreme court decision-these people should be tried, BUT please don't project the unlawful practice on the STATE, for the state is the Supreme court rather than Shabak.

he is full of himself.

giving classified papers to a haaretz journalist is not spying.that is a ridiculous charge.

it is not possible for states to fight the way infant logios would like. 1 the british targetted ira personnel in ulster. they killed them by the dozen using the sas. 2 the united states now kills tens and hundreds of innocents while targetting terrorists. 3 again america flattened faluja in iraq when their personnel were tortured and killed by sunnis in that town. so logios either you are witless or simply an extreme leftist who wants to nail israel.either way you have nothing much to say.

I just went over some older Blau articles that were based on the leaked documents, including talkbacks that look so silly now, given the latest knowledge about the 'secret' IDF orders. Blau's credibility turns out to be a shining example of good journalism that goes to the limit of putting his own safety at risk.

Haaretz never let my post will publish because my nickname is E, M Jordan is Palestinian State it is what I believe and because of what I believe Haaretz dose not have any right to censor or force me to give up my idea, please now some body explain to me who is the enemy of State, the one who love State of Israel or the one that forcing some body like me to give up my believe and change my nickname, by the way for some reasons I do not believe the Annat that Israeli solder and either that journalist are enemies of State , First it is not that simple to steal any documents from IDF special security documents, Second the journalist is right that those securities documents will not publish until will get permit from Israeli intelligence service, Third if the Journalist really wanted to harm State of Israel then he could publish those documents in London or others foreign countries like Mordechay Vannoniy long time ego did it.

The intent is quite obvious, she just copied 2000 documents over a long period of time. You would expect a person who saw some "injustice" to copy whatever they needed (3 or 5 documents) and that's it. But she copied not just reports but war regulations and other info that can endanger soldiers lives. 2000 DOCUMENTS! just imagine the work it would take, it's not something that you do off hand.

Uri seems to be implying that the ends (exposing alleged violations of the law) justify the means (breaking the law). That is a very slippery slope. Ever wonder why judges throw out any evidence collected illegally (wiretaps without a warrant, etc)? Are you implying that anyone (an individual or the state) should be allowed to violate any laws they see fit in order to prosecute people? I don't think so, and I'd be surprised if you think so either. What you have done is wrong. You should return the stolen documents and turn yourself in.

In the same manner as the US demanded craven subservience from its press corps and got it over warrantless wiretapping [re: the N.Y.T]and unquestioning support on WMD's in Iraq and got that too, Israel seeks to play the security card in order to intimidate those with a conscience. Is Anat Kam a slimline version of Daniel Ellsberg [of Pentagon Papers fame]? As with Ellsberg, maybe she serves the cause of justice and morality and places that ahead of subservience and blind loyalty to the state machinery under the ever expanding rubric of national security.

Are the documents about the "Internet warfare" actually classified?

The official reason for not extending is not convincing. Of course, Netanyahu and Barak would never admit. More secrecy for the blind...

This is not about defending democracy. This is about pretending that your "democratic" values are above democracy itself. This is about pretending that the law doesn't bind you because you aim for higher values. This is about believing that you are the last barrier standing for democracy, and that, for the sake of such barrier, democracy itself can be forsaken. Isn't it ironic?

How can it be a crime to show that the IDF ignores high court orders?? Once the trias politica is gone, a state stops being a democracy and becomes a lawless society.

You broke the law and now you are running from the police. Don't make it a political issue.

Israel's image? That doesn't seem to matter when you spin false stories to weaken Israel's FM and PM. It doesn't matter when your outlandish editorials paint Israel as racist, genocidal, and land-hungry. (As a sign of that, many of those who read this comment, those who enjoy the spin of your paper, will say, "But it is one.") You Ha'aretz folks and your foreign "Peace" Now and J Street backers have no idea of the damage you do, both to Israel and the "Palestinians" you care so much more about.

...the myth of Israel sharing American values. The myth that's supposed to justify us backing and supporting them regardless of the circumstances and at all times. Even after getting your articles cleared by a military censor you can still be hounded and punished for what journalists are supposed to be able to do in a free, democratic nation. Which Israel isn't but for some incomprehensible reason likes to pretend at being.

"The moral Army" " The Freedom Of Speech". Sorry for Uri, Vanunu and other braves Jews.

One step closer to state media.

The whole case badly stinks. Persecuting journalists and denying Israeli citizens the right to information about IDF orders that were against the law (with the IDF officers knowing and approving anyway) has no place in a democracy. Letting this pass without a fight for our democratic rights and a law abiding state will put us into the same gang as Iran, Vietnam and North Korea.

17:49 Unknown men break into Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen`s car, steal phone (Haaretz) These men must have been journalists! First they accept classified documents from others, then they start small by stealing them from cars, and before you know it they will break into police buildings and army bases and rob the documents. Better put them in jail while they still think small, and throw away the key.

In Israel, the term 'democracy' applies to elections, not much else. Herein lies the difference between Israeli democracy and true democracy: Minority rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom for an occupied people - these are all alien concepts in Israel, which makes Israel a democracy in a limited capacity only. The only democracy in the Middle East? Not really. In fact, the democratically-elected government in Gaza is not even recognized by Israel, leading me to believe that we like our allies to be as dictatorial as possible. Who knows, perhaps one day Israel will have its own dictator - maybe King Vlad (Avigdor) the first.

There is not much point in denying that IDF willingly breached court orders. That alone is a lot more severe than publishing it based on some possibly illegally obtained documents. Still, in Israel's society this doesn't seem much of a problem as long as the victims of those crimes are the Palestinians.

Exposing the criminal acts of the state will always draw out the apologist critics. But, like Daniel Elsberg before him, Uri Blau is a hero. States should not be protected from the consequences of their own criminal acts. Hopefully, this episode will finally expose the myth of Israel as a victim and a democracy--because it is neither.

How many of those who wanted Anat Kam and Uri Blau prosecuted are they very people asking for Jonathan Pollard to be freed from prison in the US? Do not forget that Uri Blau has exposed state security agencies who are acting in deliberate disobedience of an Israeli judicial ruling that murder is not a policy that will be used by the state of Israel. The fate of these two journalists hinges upon the desire of Israeli society to demonstrate that it is the rule of law that is paramount, not decisions made in secret by unaccountable state officials. At the very time Israel faces pressure from boycotts, international isolation and those who seek to "delegitimise" Israel, it is imperative that Israel can show that it is democracy that elects politicians to make laws that are enforced by an independent judiciary.

or worse, they end up in The Hague - black on white evidence right from IDF that might shed some light into a not so moral army that can't even comply with the state's own laws.

Every country has security laws. Blau is another Vanunu and his place is in jail. How low can Haartez go if they defend someone who blatantly broke national security laws?

Agree with writers who see Kam, Blau & Haaretz as culpable regardless of their "intent" Israel & democracy are not on trial here - law breakers are! The end does not justify the means - if convicted address your punishment with the same vibe you wrote with.

in israel definition can be changed in occordance with israeli interests.

We can all agree on the case that this information is danger to the country, delegitimizing its security service and military, in the eyes of the public. Now then we are not in agreement on how to handle the situation: Kill the witnesses, berry the truth, make changes to the practices necessary. Can you find more options?

Breaching Israel's own laws and then covering up by giving it the status of a classified document renders its protection invalid and certainly has nothing to do with national security. A concerned citizen or soldier has an obligation to report crimes they know about. Ideally to their superior but that's rather pointless in case of a morally rotten army.

I agree with you! Igonoring the ruling of the High Court is also a crime, and those who committed that crime must be put in jail, no matter if he is the Ramatkal. Plain a simple! Don't drink the kool-aid that Blau is endangering the State security. He is endangering the careers of several IDF officers. Blau is guilty of a crime, the same as those whom he exposed are guilty of a different crime. Everyone must be judged and received their penalty according to the law.

Anat Kam should be charged with divulging state secrets, not with the "aggravated" (i.e. "serious") part which requires "intent to harm the state". Where did the Shin Bet get her "intent" from? From her actions, it seems Ms. Kam was rather responsible, giving the documents only to one journalist, an Israeli and not a foreigner, who would then publish it only subject to official censorship requirements. In any case, I am at a loss to see why there was any gag order in this case. The IDF commits illegal acts and the court helps it hide them. Sunlight, as it is said, is the best disinfectant.

Uri didn't breach any court orders. The opposite is the case - he exposed others in breach of court orders and that's why they try to hunt him down.

Imagine, a Nazi soldier stealing SS files and exposing secret orders to eliminate Jews via the press. That 'traitor' would be considered a hero in today's Germany. Unfortunetly, it didn't happen. Fortunately it it happened in Israel and my hope is now that the IDF will not sink deeper in their illegal activities.

I hear the anger you express after being betrayed by someone you trusted to protect your country...so perhaps you'll also understand why Jonathan Pollard is still in a US prison?

No need to fear the state authorities (they fear you more). What you should fear most is the indifference of many good people that know the truth but fail to act. That's why you must keep on writing!

If a state wants to call itself a democracy, the answer should be clear. Blau is not an IDF spokesman nor the state's PR agent. He did exactly what a good Journalist is supposed to do: exposing the inconvinient truth.

uri, imagine for a moment and for the sake of understanding what is going on, that you were given the opportunity to access all secret files of idf and not just 2000 files. for free and for good. * how, as a journalist and an israeli would you deal with that knowledge? * would you expose only selected chapters, the whole set, or none? * or maybe you would ask someone who has the formal responsibility of deciding what is secret or not, what you should do? *or maybe you would share with those that are affected directly by the docs to make things more even? * please illuminate us

The insiders know how the system works: IDF misconduct is generally classified as top secret.

He didn't just publish the information, he actually published the documents in newspaper. Too bad the people in this newspaper tries to justify him, the documents he hold contains alot of sensitive information. Information that risks soldiers lives.

She was an IDF soldier turned journalist. Did she take copies of the secret files to show the IDF the lax of security, did she take them to get a kick start into fame in her journalist job, or did she take them to make israel a better country by exposing them ? For me this is important to know. What makes Anat and others do what they do.

Uri Blau is obviously confused - he thinks everything should be available whereas even the most liberal democracies have state secrets. He and Anat Kam should be sent to jail for long periods. It is simple really - they stole secret documents and then published them. They endangered national security and should spend long periods thinking about it in jail.

It does not matter if the IDF was lax in its protection of military secret documents or that it may have violated Supreme Court decisions. If a pedestrian violates red light & crosses a street when he should not,this does not allow car drivers to run him over. Kam stole documents & Blau used some of them the write articles. Both kept documents that anyone could easily believe to be in less secure hands than under the Intelligence Services. The latter, with responsabilities well greater than Blau & Kam towards the securrity of the country in dangerous times are not likely to take a soft approach in this case even with journalists.The journalists can try to shift the responsability of their acts to others but they created a grave security risk for Israel & for themselves as they could become targets of foreign intelligence agents or terrorists

The state of Israel cannot remain free if freedom is allowed. Shin Bet's right to break the highest law of the land at will is the only way to ensure that the highest law of the land is not broken. It's unfortunate but true that security for Israeli citizens against the evil that surrounds Israel can only be maintained if Israel exercises evil against it's citizens.

It seems from what I read that this whole story is blown out of proportion and you are a victim of the "one line of thought should fit all" syndrome in Israel. Good luck, I hope you will find the best way to continue to do your job with passion, either from London or from Israel.

Failings by the state must be exposed. The Israeli public has a right to know about it. Blau openened a lot of people their eyes about Israel's holy cow that seems to be in complete disregard of law and order. What's even more alarming are the methods used by the state to cover it up.

if his work was cleared for publication by the Military censors? How was he committing a criminal offence?

I think the safety of Israel is more important than Kam"s right to the secret documents of her country.

You wrote several articles without checking their accuracy, and thus smeared their name in public, I hope that at least now you can feel a little how these people feel, i would have thought that truth and and a tiny bit of empathy are more important as journalist than being simply a sensationalist

How can you be a traitor if the reports you have published are cleared by the military censor?

At least he could have used the famous "It's not you. It's me routine."

You should return them. Don't worry now about Israel's image.

If you knew you were given secret documents you should go to jail for treason. The same for Kam.

Avi is spot on. Uri Blau is a whistleblower not a traitor. All governments are fearful of people like Uri and Ana because they do not want their dirty little secrets exposed to the world. "All the exposes in military or defence matters were vetted by military censors before publication". So there were no issues of national security at stake, just the unlawful behaviour of members of the government and the IDF. No wonder the international community has lost patience with the Israeli government.

For anyone who is not blind or deaf it is common knowledge that the IDF have acted as assassins for years. Mr Blau was trying to provide proof of this as any good journalist should; that is not undermining state security it is exposing corruption in the Israeli govt.and military. These expositions happen all over the world and in a 'democracy' an individual is not put on trial for it.

When a state has a secret to protect it is generally a shameful deal

Blau's article IS full of waffly generalities and martyrdom. An article in the London Times a week ago spoke of revelations that Zahal HAD used Palestinians as human shields. That is against Israeli law, and if true, it should be exposed, and the officers concerned prosecuted. BUT, Israeli media now speak of 1000s of documents stolen, including many military operational plans. If THAT is true, then the woman soldier who stole the plans, and Blau himself - who refuses to hand them over - should be prosecuted.

Expose and Whitsleblower, these are the keywords here... of course Uri bypassed the military censor, this was a shocking expose of unethical and illegal actions on the part of the military! Whisleblowers and journalists like Uri are heroes, not an enemy of the state. Expunge the filth in power, and restore democracy.

The "lady" should be in jail until she is sentenced for stealling military secrets and passing these to unothorised persons. The reason why she is currently at home and not in jail is because she is "well connected" in Israel. That is the reason she got such a "cushy job" at the HQ .....

Uri, how pathetic and sad. Are we meant to feel sorry for you because you break the law? Interesting how you expose people and stories of illegal activities but somehow your end justifies the means. No-one is questioning your right to write exposes, but if there are still illegally obained documents in your posession (as other reporters claim), you are a criminal and the full weight of the law should come down on your shoulders, like the people you expose.

If? The military censorship allowed the publication, are they traitors as well?

he is however filled with self regard.

A criminal should be put to jail ! That is what democracy is about. And it doesn't matter if the criminal is a former soldier or current journalist. Both conducted a crime - both should be put to jail.

Noone is saying that a journalist cannot write what he wants. noone is telling you what to write. But, yes, someone is telling you not to harm state security. i dont know how your article passed censorship.

It's the same the world over. Secret services exist to protect secrets. That's important, of course. But they also have a natural tendency to take things too far and start labelling all sorts of things that are merely politically embarrassing or uncomfortable as national security matters. Journalists exist to expose abuse of power. They also have their own tendency to take things too far. If you are not in a society where there is the occasional blow-up between the two, chances you are in sick society. This is bigger than the rights and wrongs of the particular case - which it's hard to call without knowing all the details. But better a state of affairs where journalists are allowed to make the odd mistake than one where the security services are allowed too far out of their box. Epstein's analogy is well taken: what better example could there be of where you end up if you give excessive leeway to a security establishment than modern Russia with its solovki-ocracy and docile media.

I don't know what else to say about this, except that you seem to have done your best as a journalist and been betrayed by your government. This is not unusual, and is not unique to Israel. I feel terrible about what has happened to you and to Anat Kam. If I knew how to help I would do so. As it stands, I am at a loss as to how to help. I can only wish you the best, and assure you that I will speak favorably of you at every opportunity in hopes that it may have some effect. I wish you the best, and hope you receive a just resolution to your troubles.

If Uri Blua is blabbing state secrets that harm the IDF & Israel's security he is a traitor, plain & simple. You can't hide behind the defense of free speech for everything.

I know that nobody will read this message but you,because you are starving and need food for your family,you are ready to sell your soul and your country to the enemy.So to publish Israeli army secrets is not important and you ,may be,will get a price or a trophee for this action.Be proud you kneeded your country and your people!

For someone to steal 2,000 classified IDF documents and pass them on to persons unknown is a nightmare for national security. To think accepting and publishing classified documents is part of his job as a journalist is a sad reflection on his professionalism.

Couldn't say it better. What Kam and Blau did may have been wrong but it seems it is overshadowing a far more serious complaint -- the spotlight should be on the army and their blatant disregard of the laws of our society and their endangerment of our security by their reckless and dishonest behavior.

apart from a country claiming to be a democracy censoring the free press. Is that Uri Blau's articles were cleared for publication by the military censor. If that is the case what Uri was saying must have already either being in the Public domain, or even declassified. So what is this all about? Possibly and the most likely, there are senior political figures and senior members of the military who have been found to be in contept of court, or knowingly breaking the law, and they are trying to cover their hides. But I fail to see how publishing an article which has been cleared in accordance to Israeli law can criminalise the author. According to the rules he has to operate by he had done nothing wrong.

when you get killed by terrorists then you'll see why Israel takes all these measures. And I have no idea why you relate a document with peace (aside from the fact that in the wrong hands it'll stop the peace)

lands one in jail.uri state secrets may be exciting stuff but their secrecy is important. someone no matter how fallible has to decide what to keep secret.

i was wondering when franz would rear his head.of course it was inevitable.

"my name has appeared under bylines on exposes of avigdor lieberman and olmert" thamks for the resume uri.

but to get there, you also broke law. you knew in advance, it would cause trouble. now you have it. you are a brave journalist, who certainly will get out of prison as good as new. the world needs them.

so thats your sthick blau you see yourself as the revolutionary standing against the slings and arrows of the "establishment".

with israel's secrets?

Well said, both of you. When it comes to state security, there is no transparency and no democracy, and levantine Israelis don't understand this. They don't understand what democracy is.

Mr. Blau. I agree a little bit your attitude as a journalist. But Anat has been arrested during December 2009, and almost Israeli media(of course including Haaretz) ignored such a horrific event. And in this aricle, you never did talk about Anat. Why? Are you afraid about extradition? Or do you forget Anat? I wonder why you (and Haaretz) could (or did) not protect Anat...

To quote a former Israeli General: "Israel is more highly militarised than Germany from the time of Bismarck through 1945." This is not a peace loving country! Uri Blau - you're not risking anyones' lives, except for perhaps the political lives of our corrupt politician and those who profit from our military-industrial complex! People who can bring down the corrupt political opportunists deserve our respect! Kol ha kavod!

...because we have such a mixed up mish-mash of individual rights as well as the right of a society to exist and protect itself that it is possible for self-aggrandized journalists like you to justify endangering the entire society. This is a sickness that afflicts both the left and the right. The problem is that all of you breath on all of us!!!

Uri, no one is harassing you for publishing 'inconvenient' reports. The fact is that they appeared in Haaretz and were passed by the military censor. From the information available in the Hebrew media, it seems that you accepted classified documents from a former servicewoman who exploited her position of trust to obtain them illegally. It further appears that in breach of an agreement under which you would not be charged, you failed to return a portion of the documents. Is this true? You also seem to imply that you have been under surveillance by State agencies. If they believe that you are in possession of illegally leaked, highly classified documents that you failed to return despite having agreed to do so, surely it is their responsibility to ensure the documents do not fall into the wrong hands even if you had no intention of passing them on. Those ransacking your apartment may not have belonged to State agencies.

If Uri Blau is so concerned with democracy and the free press, he should not be hiding out in the UK, where his case can easily become manipulated by the Left there, but should be here defending himself in the venue in which the alleged offenses occured. I hope he is promptly expelled and made to return to explain his actions better than he has done so far in his articles which reek of self-pity, even though he may have committed serious security offenses. Being a reporter entails certain responsibilities and I do not see that Mr. Blau has availed himself of those responsibilities of a free press. Yes, sources should not be divulged, but in matters of state security or where the lives of personnel could be endangered, he has a moral obligation to be open about his actions and to accept whatever punishment is meted out in person. True and courageous journalists do so. Poor ones hide behind the guise of "democracy" or other lame excuses. They do a disservice to real journalists.

Be careful people. An Enemy of the state is no different to Stalin's "Enemy of the People"...a ruthless Police State The first casualty of a democracy is freedom of the press. Before you know it people start believing in the Big Lie. Govenments are made of people and people can and do lie. The only thing holding them in check is a strong Judiciary and Journalists.

in every democracy there needs to be an opposition, a loyal opposition. a soldier who illegally copises thousands of highly sensitive and classified military documents with the intent to pass those documents to journalists, such a soldier is not, at first blush, part of the loyal opposition. she took all she could. the journalist who agreed to be the receipient of these secret military documnets is not part of the loyal opposition. it never occurred to him that among those thousands of documents, there might be many which in fact contain some of the state's highest secrets, including battle plans and strategy. nor has he, as of now, returned all of the documents to the state. a loyal opposition has every right to criticise the government. a loyal opposition even has the right to reveal acts of government that are clearly and substantially illegal. however, a loyal opposition does not have the right to endanger the state or to posit itself as sole judge and jury.

If you're so sure that you are right why are you hiding out in England? Have you decided to pull a Vanunu and sell your country out to some anti-semitic europeans?

There is a difference between democracy and free speech. Democracy means the people elect the leaders and ABIDE by the laws that they enact. Free speech means the right to a contrary opinion but that is as long as itdoes not bring HARM to another. In our case free speech is not to give away state secrets. This is understood in most countries by most people. It is sad that Uri has or is confusing the two to justify his error.

How sad for Uri Blau and for the state of democracy in this country.

You and your paper were party to a massive breach of state security. That you have a high opinion of your own rectitude doesn't excuse this.