Israel charges reporters with censorship violation

Israeli authorities have indicted two journalists working for an Iranian TV station with passing classified information to the enemy.

Updated on: Jan 14, 2009, 20:11:37 IST

AP | By HT Correspondent, Jerusalem

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Israeli authorities have indicted two journalists working for an Iranian TV station with passing classified information to the enemy.

The indictment says the two Palestinian journalists reported the beginning of Israel's ground incursion into Gaza on Jan. 3 while the information was still subject to military censorship. Tuesday's indictment says they knew their broadcast for Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam TV could endanger Israeli soldiers by giving Hamas militants forewarning of the operation.

The charges could carry lengthy jail terms.

Their lawyer says they did not know they were breaking any law. Muhammad Dahleh says Israeli authorities are picking on the journalists because they are Palestinians working for a TV station from Iran, one of Israel's most bitter enemies.

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