Dorner: Blau must return documents
Retired judge and president of Israeli Press Council warns of consequences of arresting Haaretz journalist, saying such move would be 'serious blow to Israel's image'
President of the Israeli Press Council, retired Judge Dalia Dorner addressed on Monday the media implications of the Anat Kam affair. Dorner urged Haaretz reporter Uri Blau to return the confidential documents he received from the former soldier, while warning against the severe consequences of arresting him.
Given Kam's waiving of her journalistic immunity granted her as the source of the documents, Dorner "calls upon the journalist immediately to return the documents he received from Kam to the certified authorities."
At the same time, Dorner asked that the journalist not be arrested if he agrees to return the documents to the defense authorities.
According to her, "Arresting a journalist because of documents he received from a source in the framework of his job could instill fear within Israel's press, thus damaging the reporter's most important tool and severely damaging Israel's image as a country in which the freedom of press and freedom of expression are a guiding principle."
Kam, who has been indicted for espionage after stealing thousands of confidential documents during her military service in the Central Command chief's office, announced Sunday that she is waiving her immunity as a journalistic source.
Kam's legal team, Attorney Avigdor Feldman and Attorney Eitan Lehman, said they appreciate efforts made by Blau to maintain Kam's immunity, but said that after Kam confessed to the Shin Bet to stealing the documents, there is no longer need for her immunity.
