Clearly, from the government’s point of view the Zygier affair involving the Australian Jew who is believed to have worked for the Mossad and ultimately took his own life after being placed in an Israeli isolation cell has boomeranged out of control from Israel’s point of view.

Speaking on the Meet the Press show, Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon said “In cases of pikuach nefesh we are at times compelled to drastic measures,” adding this was such a case.

MK (Labor) Eitan Cabel is unwilling to accept the vague explanation, and he is demanding a high-level investigation to be conducted by uninvolved parties. Cabel’s statements appear on his Facebook page.

There is mounting pressure in Israel demanding government officials release information towards bringing a measure of clarity to the situation amid mounting accusations of malfeasance by Israel made by Australian government and diplomatic officials.

State Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is contemplating the release of the decision handed down by Rishon L’Tzion Magistrate’s Court President Justice Daphne Blackman-Kadrai some six weeks ago, in which the court stated Ben Zygier did indeed commit suicide in his isolation cell in Ayalon Prison two years ago. It appears Justice Ministry officials are weighing the release of the decision towards adding an element of clarity under mounting media pressure, albeit a censored decision that does not include details that would compromise state security.

Commenting on growing media attention given to the case, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made the following comments at the start of Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting.

“At the start of the meeting, I would like to say that I rely completely on the security forces of the State of Israel. They operate with endless dedication and commitment to ensure that we will be able to live in this country. I also completely rely on the legal authorities in the State of Israel. The security and intelligence forces of the State of Israel operate under the full supervision of the legal authorities, which are completely independent. With this combination of maintaining security and maintaining the law, we will also maintain freedom of expression; however, the over-exposure of security and intelligence activity could harm, sometimes severely, state security.

“Therefore, in any discussion, the security interest cannot be made light of, and in the reality in which the State of Israel lives, this must be a main interest. We are not like other countries. We are an exemplary democracy and maintain the rights of those under investigation and individual rights no less than any other country. However we are more threatened and face more challenges; therefore, we must maintain proper activity of our security agencies. And therefore, I ask all of you, let the security forces do their work quietly so that we can continue to live in security and tranquility in the State of Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)