Why the Israeli military censorship

Yossi Melman

The Israeli military censorship created based on the British emergency laws of 1942. They were taken when Italian planes bombed tel Aviv, and Rommel's army was torn to Egypt and there was a real threat of Nazi occupation of Palestine.

Military censorship operates within the Department of military intelligence. Israeli law requires Israeli authors (including those published abroad) were filed for preliminary review of all materials associated with a broad range of national security, the preservation of peace and public order. If you wish, censorship has created trouble, though not for experienced journalists, and for writers and researchers, mistakenly alluding to some secrets that they might know at the service. Today the Department of military censorship in command of 49-year-old Ariela Ben Israel, Colonel. Women occupied this post since 2004. In 2004-2005, the chief military censor has served Miri Regev, the Israeli Minister of culture and sports, constantly causing a public storm of his unparliamentary remarks.

In the years of Israeli military censorship had different functions. For example, from 1948 to 2004 military censors "the only democracy in the middle East" carried out monitoring of all international phone calls. In 1940, relations with the censorship was done by the Committee of editors of leading Jewish Newspapers. They met regularly with the Prime Minister, Ministers, senior officials and military officers to discuss national security issues. There were as editors of Pro-government Zionist media, editors of the opposition press. The editor of the Communist newspaper "Col Ham" ("voice of the people") Shmuel Mikunis at one time was Deputy Chairman of this Committee. In 1966, the Committee of editors have signed the censorship agreement on the work order. To circumvent censorship, Israeli journalists add the phrase "according to publications in the foreign press", exactly as the Russian media will write about ISIS: "Banned in Russia organization".

In 1992 disaster struck, known in Israel as a disaster Ceilin Beth. During a training exercise in the Negev, working out the assassination of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, were killed and five soldiers from the special forces of the General staff (Sayeret matkal). Another six were injured. Censorship has banned all publications, but the information was leaked to foreign media. It turned out that the exercise was attended by the then chief of staff of the Israeli armed forces Ehud Barak (later Prime Minister) and that he hurriedly left the scene by helicopter (he was accused of running away). In protest against the ban on the publication of several leading Newspapers broke the agreement. Later, in 1996, it signed a new agreement, but the conflict between censorship and journalists happen all the time.

Ehud Barak during a disaster Ceilin Beth

– Military censorship is interfering with my work every day, says Yossi Melman. – I must submit them for approval to almost everything I write. It is a constant hassle. Sometimes have to bargain with them for every word, every sentence. Constantly trying to convince the censors to change his mind. It's not easy, but it's part of my daily work.

You (All Israel "you", in Hebrew, there is no "you". M. D.) outraged? asked Simon Spungin leading to weekly podcast of the newspaper Haaretz.

– Not something that I resent, but the institution is obsolete in the XXI century, the century of the Internet, social networks and blogs. Every day, every minute people will post whatever came to mind. And we, the professional journalists are required to ask their permission. And this leads us into despair.

The Attack on freedom of speech under the pretext of public security is maintained on all sides. The Obama administration has employed against journalists to the laws of war-time espionage. The administration trump continues the same line. There is an opinion that it is better to provide censored than to be behind bars for many years, having published something.

I can't remember one Israeli journalist put behind bars for publishing.

Different countries have different mechanisms to protect sensitive information. For example, in Britain the media have warned that they can and what they cannot print.

I Have mixed feelings about censorship, says Melman. – There is no coherence between the censors. The views of one may differ from the views of another. On the other hand, of course, better to consent than to print anything.

The Melman 69 years. As an experienced war correspondent and commentator on national security issues, he often knows beforehand what to say and where the line is.

We are engaged in self-censorship. But the system of censorship so much absurdity and silliness that sometimes discouraged.

In the present times of fierce competition in the media for audiences, for subscribers, for more views and likes, there is a danger that any self-censorship could not resist, to succumb to the temptation.


Hezbollah, the Iranians and other opponents really carefully read and respond to the Israeli information. They do not always understand the twists of Israeli politics, but for the Israelis, their policy becomes more complicated. Shortly before the New year, the newly-appointed defense Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett said, they say, will turn Syria into a Vietnam for the Iranians. Tehran responded quickly, and on the next day, the Iranians talked about the fact that will satisfy the Israelis Vietnam.

– I'm not a spokesman for the Israeli security services, says Melman. – Don't have to speak on their behalf, moreover, to reckon with the fact that the enemy listens to me or believe my stories. This is ridiculous. It is not my task – to broadcast on behalf of the Israeli security agencies and to submit them to censorship. This is not my debt and my responsibility.

Indeed, in Israel, like to consider their citizens as the representatives and soldiers of the Israeli propaganda. I remember when I flew from the airport of a name Ben-Gurion, I was handed a pamphlet "Become a soldier of the IDF". It was not about the acronym of the Israel defense forces (CVA AGANA Le Israel), but the same letters meant the Army propaganda of Israel (CVA asbara Le Israel). When I write something on Israeli topics, I get a bunch of reviews, including from my friends who are waiting for (the collective) we are required to be "representatives of Israel before the Nations." About Israel as about the dead either good or nothing.

Poster "army of Israeli propaganda"

Yossi Melman actively used by "Twitter". More than once he was forced to erase the already published tweets. Censorship claims that they allegedly improve the situation and reduce damage.

Some time ago the authorities were forced to destroy Melman tweet about corruption and bribes in the Israeli defense establishment. In the last decades there were many reports of bribery and corruption of Israeli arms dealers (exclusively senior officers-retirees who are not even a nail to sell without the license of the Israeli Ministry of defense). Reports of suspicious transactions come from Peru, India, Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Ivory Coast and other countries. However, the censorship, the police and the courts are surrounded by all things dull conspiracy of silence, although it is not even about security issues, but a purely economic crimes.

Readers of the Russian-speaking Israeli media may give the impression that the Prosecutor's office and the courts there is a refuge dangerous leftists who do that are undermining the foundations of the Jewish state and undermine the best of people. In fact, Israeli human rights system – obedient tool in the hands of the security forces, solves the case in their favor, and unconditionally covers their shortcomings and mistakes.


In addition to military Affairs, Yossi Melman wrote extensively and engaged in the Affairs of the Israeli intelligence – Mossad. He is the author of several books, a popular documentary series "Inside Mossad" (appeared on "Netflix" with English subtitles). Successful PR and the failed bureaucracy of the Israeli intelligence community – in the second part.

New York, January 2020