Legalists: AG's decision on Arad leaks appropriate

Senior legal experts say AG Weinstein made right call by declining prosecution in former national security advisor's leak scandal as case was 'lacking evidentiary merit'

Aviad Glickman|Published: 05.18.11 , 22:16

Senior legalists rallied to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's defense Wednesday, after he came under fire for failing to prosecute former National Security Advisor Uzi Arad for leaking sensitive information to the media.

A Channel 10 report revealed Tuesday that Arad had leaked highly sensitive information to the media and then resigned to avoid prosecution.

The sources said no clarifications were made regarding the leak due to Shin Bet orders.

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Wednesday saw State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss approached on the matter as well, as he was asked to launch an investigation into Weinstein's decision.

Further information revealed in the affair suggests that the leak concerned Israel's collaboration with the United States on civilian nuclear technology – the production of electricity from nuclear energy.

Israel was discussing the possibility of building a nuclear power plant with Washington and the latter was irked by the publication, since it was agreed that any release of information to the media would be coordinated between the two.

The plan was shelved following the devastating earthquake in Japan and the country's ensuing nuclear crisis.

Sources familiar with Weinstein's decision, attributed it to his wish to avoid setting a precedent that would compel him to make covert inquiries public.

Another major reason for the decision was that it has been established that Arad did not leak the information deliberately, but rather via a slip of the tongue.

The sources added that Arad's actions bore no criminal streak, "and would have been found lacking in evidentiary merit."

Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report