The Tel Aviv District Court on Monday lifted a gag order placed on the identity of Israel Defense Forces interrogator Doron Zahavi, who until now was known only by the code name "Captain George." The gag order was lifted at Zahavi's request. Zahavi, 53, led the military's interrogation of Lebanese terror operative Mustafa Dirani, who was captured and brought to Israel in 1994. Zahavi's objective was to obtain from Dirani details on the fate of Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who went missing in action in October 1986. Zahavi filed a 5-million-shekel ($1.43 million) suit against the state in 2010. Through attorney Effi Nave, he claimed compensation for being "unlawfully" dismissed from the IDF after 20 years of service, and for suffering psychological damage from years of handling complicated interrogations. District Court Judge Dalia Ganot rejected his suit at the time, citing the statute of limitations, as more than seven years had passed since he was relieved from duty in the Military Intelligence. Zahavi pointed to a recorded segment of Dirani's interrogation, which was aired on the investigative journalism program "Uvda" ("Fact") in 2011, as evidence supporting his innocence and preventing the state from invoking the statute of limitations. Ganot, however, ruled that the evidence produced by the program also had to be corroborated by eye-witness accounts. Zahavi appealed Ganot's ruling and the case made its way to the High Court of Justice. Attorney Nave told Israel Hayom on Monday that Zahavi had requested the court lift the gag order on his identity because he was sure it was already known in his workplace, in his neighborhood, among his acquaintances and even on the Internet. "Zahavi also wants to reveal himself and offer his full side of the story so the public can hear and judge," said Nave. "I'm tired of hiding behind the name Captain George," Zahavi, who currently serves as chief superintendent with the Israel Police, said. "Even though I have spoken in the past, no one could see the real face, the person behind the job or nickname. ... I decided to come forward, to show my face, as they say, with my natural voice, so people would know that this is about a person ultimately, just doing a job."
Dirani, who was released as part of a 2004 prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah, had accused his interrogators of torturing and raping him following his capture -- accusations that Zahavi has denied.
Identity of IDF interrogator 'Captain George' revealed
Doron Zahavi, the IDF officer involved in the controversial interrogation of Lebanese terror operative Mustafa Dirani, who was held in Israel between 1994 and 2004, asks the court to reveal his name as part of a damages claim filed against the state.
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