Professors for a Strong Israel
Statement to the Press -
11 November 1999
Re: Demand for a Commission of Inquiry
The High Court of Justice has ruled in favor of allowing the publication of the "secret document," which contains the minutes of a meeting between the senior staff of the State Attorney’s office and the General Security Service (Shabak).
This ruling must lead to the convening of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate all the serious questions and accusations that have been voiced in recent years regarding the methods of the Attorney General, the State Attorney’s office, the GSS, and other bodies.
As it turned out, the "secret document" contained nothing injurious to national security (as claimed by the Attorney General), but its content does raise serious doubts about branches of government that must remain above all suspicion. Only a comprehensive and independent inquiry can restore the public’s faith in these vital institutions.
Professors for a Strong Israel demands that this commission be convened. We have submitted an urgent petition to the Chairman of the Knesset’s Government Oversight Committee, MK Dr. Uzi Landau, asking that the committee take the steps required by this emergency.
Among the questions that must be posed by the commission of inquiry:
- What were (and are) the mission and the methods of the Jewish Branch of the Shabak?
- What political authority gave its approval to the Shabak‘s methods, in particular the planting of agents provocateurs within the Jewish public, and what did the Prime Ministers (who hold ultimate authority) know about them?
- Why was continued use made of a "problematic agent" such as Avishai Raviv?
In particular, who authorized this Shabak agent to distribute the infamous poster of Rabin in SS uniform that serves until the present day as a handy device for besmirching half the Israeli public? More generally, what was Raviv’s contribution to the polarized atmosphere in the period leading up to the Rabin Assassination? And were there other agents provocateurs as well?
- If Raviv knew of intentions or plans for assassinating Rabin, did he report them to his superiors? If he did report them, what was done with the information? If he did not, why not? Was his salary paid him purely for creating provocations?
- What considerations led to the closing of criminal cases against wayward Shabak agents? How was it decided that these cases held "no interest to the public?" Who denied the public its right to know of these matters?
- What are the answers to the questions voiced by many, recently even by the Rabin family, concerning the events of the night of the assassination?
- Why was Raviv’s indictment delayed for four years? Why did it take massive public pressure to force the Attorney General to file the indictment? Why does the indictment cover only a fraction of the criminal matters that have been alleged?
- Why did the Attorney General claim falsely that the "secret document" contained material affecting state security? Who was the beneficiary of the cover-up?
- What brought about the meeting between the State Attorney’s office and the Shabak concerning the faked Eyal swearing-in ceremony, only a few days before the elections for the 14th Knesset? Were there political considerations behind the attempt to close the case out of "lack of public interest" at this time, despite the Attorney General’s opinion that there was indeed an overriding public interest in the continuation of criminal proceedings?
Until the commission completes its inquiry, it is appropriate that those officials involved in these matters, both in the legal system and in the Shabak, be suspended from their duties so that public confidence in these institutions may not be shaken even more.
It would also be appropriate that the former heads of the Shabak, during whose tenure Avishai Raviv was employed and Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, show a bit of shame and cease their television appearances as commentators on the failures of the system they once directed.
The present scandal appears to be much more serious than the sad affair of Bus 300.
Only a thorough, independent investigation will clear the air and restore public trust.
Dr. Ron Breiman, Spokesman
Tel: 050-518940
Pager: 03-610 6666 / 28345