Censor Bans Book on Israel and the Atomic Bomb

The Israel government censor has banned from publication a book by two Israeli journalists on whether Israel has the atomic bomb. The authors, Eli Teicher, 37, and Ami Doron, both former members of the editorial staff of Hoaretz, also told a press conference this week that they have also had to turn over to the censor all their notes and other pertinent material.

The two journalists said that after holding the manuscript of the book for 45 days the censor ruled the book contains material that is harmful to Israel’s security. The authors have also been prohibited from divulging any details of the book.

“We asked the censor to allow us to have the manuscript for two more days so as to enable our attorney to study material for on order nisi” (show cause order), Teicher said. “But the censor refused.” They now have asked their attorney to seek an injunction from the Supreme Court ordering the censor to return the manuscript even for a short time.

The two authors said that when CBS correspondent Dan Raviv first reported on the book, the Defense Ministry said “the book contains nothing secret, it contains lies and untruths and it cannot harm the State security. Yet now, the fact that the book is banned apparently means something else.” Teicher, while careful not to reveal what the book contains, stressed it was non-fiction.

The CBS correspondent avoided the censor on the story by flying to Rome to broadcast it. His credentials were later lifted by Israel. The CBS story said that Israel and South Africa have jointly exploded a nuclear device. “This story is not included in the book,” Teicher and Doron stressed.