Knesset (Israel Parliament) Take Note: A new SA “secrecy bill” would criminalize the possession and disclosure of classified information, no matter by whom, and no matter why

South Africa during the struggle in the 20th Century:


South Africa December 2011 (!!):
DEFENDERS of freedom in South Africa are deeply worried these days. The health of one of the world’s most celebrated democracies, which emerged after decades of struggle against apartheid, is under threat. And any rollback of freedom here will have profoundly negative consequences for other nascent democracies across Africa.

Last week, the ruling African National Congress used its legislative majority to pass the Protection of State Information Bill in one of the two houses of Parliament. If signed into law, the “secrecy bill,” as many here call it, would criminalize the possession and disclosure of classified information, no matter by whom, and no matter why.

Under the proposed law, a journalist who receives classified information revealing corruption or wrongdoing involving government contracts is required to hand it over to the police and most likely face interrogation about the source. Holding on to such material invites up to 5 years in jail, and publishing it, up to 25. Read More.


...and meanwhile in Israel:

November 2011 — A committee of Israeli cabinet ministers voted Sunday to back two bills aimed at curtailing the support of left-wing nonprofit groups from foreign governments.

The 11-to-5 vote threw the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government behind the bills, which human rights groups have denounced as violations of free expression and an effort by the government to silence its critics. Read More.



Haaretz July 2011:

The U.S. State Department responded Tuesday to the new anti-boycott law passed in Israel, saying that the freedom to organize and protest is a democratic value Israel and the U.S. have long shared.

The Knesset passed a law Monday night which penalizes persons or organizations calling for the boycott of Israel or the settlements. The new law sparked uproar throughout Israel, with Israeli leftist organizations launching a series of protests against the law and one movement submitted a petition to the Supreme Court claiming the law is unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

	Israeli leftist activists protest the boycott law in Jerusalem, July 12, 2011.

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose" (Janis Joplin 1960's)