justifying censorship in the free world

Can we still talk about and actually believe the propaganda about  Free Societies and  their Free Press?

Read and think about the line below - "against the ultimate evil"  . The fight against  that  proclaimed  Evil justifies the state censorship of the dark heart of so called "free societies". The dark side that the powerful use to their unquestioned advantage and actually create' the ultimate evil' they fight  to ward off. 

Against the ultimate evil, one cannot fight with an arsenal of human rights and enlightened values.

Ben Zygier at his wedding, captured from an image broadcast by ABC News. Photo: ABC Screenshot

I don’t know about you, but I am on the Mossad’s side. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for all the Mossad agents wherever they may be around the world. I pray that all Mossad operations be successful, and that as many as possible of the people or institutions whose aim is to destroy the State of Israel and its citizens just disappear, and I don’t care how. I am an Israeli, a Zionist, a journalist, in that order. (And what about a Jew? Yes, I am a proud secular Jew, who does not connect religion to nonholy things. Religion is in the synagogue and in the heart.) Theoretically, if I chanced upon an incredible story, one that would make sensational international headlines and make me a famous journalist overnight, but at the same time thwart a Mossad operation to, let’s say, destroy Iran’s nuclear program, I would happily forgo the story and I would fall asleep that night with a smile on my face.

And the only thing that is more important to me than the public’s right to know, freedom of information and democracy, is the very existence of our country. Because I still remember how it was before Israel was established, upon the ashes of the six million. And therefore, even though I tend to quarrel quite a bit with the military censorship, at the end of the day I agree that when the publication of a specific item would constitute a real danger to national security, to people’s lives or to the country’s vital foreign relations, it is preferable that the item not be published.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=303331

Israel's media censorship of the Prisoner X story is a sad fact of life

The media gag on the death of Mossad agent Ben Zygier relied not on coercion but on public support for a high-security state

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Australian newspapers lead their front pages with the death of former Mossad agent Ben Zygier, known as Prisoner X. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Israel's media operates under official censorship. That has been the basic fact of my professional life as a journalist covering foreign policy and national security. Here's how it works: any story involving defence, intelligence, or nuclear matters must be submitted to the military censor's office. It can run only after being stamped for approval.

The main goal of censorship is deterrence: you know that your story will be blacked out, so why bother writing it. All of us are well-trained in self-censorship and in using code words like "nuclear capability" or "nuclear option" rather than "nuclear weapons".

The success of censorship relies not on coercion and legal enforcement, but on public support. The military and intelligence community enjoy sacred status in Israeli society, and "national security" resonates much better than "civil liberties". Many journalists accept censorship willingly as their national contribution, don't argue with it, and criticise their peers who break with the official line. They are even proud of knowing the story and withholding it from their audience.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/15/israel-censorship-prisoner-x