Justice Minister Pinhas Rosen expressed the opinion today that wiretapping and censorship were being “overdone” in Israel but defended both procedures on grounds of state security requirements.
The Justice Minister took that stand in replying in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, on private members bills calling for a ban on wiretapping and invalidating evidence for courts collected by this means. The bills were introduced by Zvi Zimmerman of the General Zionists and Haim Landau of the right-wing Herut.
The two deputies cited examples of Ministers and Knesset members as being among persons whose telephones had been tapped and police introduction of testimony obtained by such methods.
Mr. Rosen, who admitted he had experienced “letter-snooping,” said that the next Israel Government, whether or not he was in it, would consider steps to limit wiretapping to an essential minimum for reasons of security only. He added he did not object to having the bills submitted to committee for further study and formulation.
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