The coverage of the so-called "Harpaz affair," which has morphed into "the Ashkenazi affair," is subject to various gag orders. Consequently, the media's hands are tied and they cannot provide all the details about any explosive material it might contain.
That said, the media was allowed to report on the formation of a new task force that would pursue the case and investigate former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi. This was reported extensively by virtually every paper. Israel Hayom had it on its front page, even Haaretz did; the media embargo posed no problem. But over at Yedioth Ahronoth, there was no mention of the latest developments on Wednesday. Not even a hint.
Israel Hayom columnist Dan Margalit deserves much of the credit for how this investigation has unfolded. He has repeatedly called on the police to adopt a more aggressive posture in its pursuit of the truth.
In its weekend edition Yediot tried to downplay Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein's decision to launch a criminal probe that would pick up from where Chief Military Advocate General Maj.-Gen. Danny Efroni left off, in light of new evidentiary material the latter had gathered. But on Wednesday the paper just chose to forgo coverage of the latest developments pertaining to this affair; it did not sugarcoat the news, it omitted it. Now, for all those who do not believe in coincidence -- this must be troubling.
Although we can only report what complies within the terms of the gag orders, we can still posit certain questions: Should the higher-ups at Yedioth Ahronoth be worried? Do they want the details of the investigation, or at least some of them, kept under wraps? As Haaretz's Amos Harel put it Sunday: "The new recordings [seized from Ashkenazi's office] are expected to add details on another aspect -- Ashkenazis political future The story also seems to be linked to the newspaper wars: Yedioth Ahronoth vs. Israel Hayom, which translates into Yedioth Ahronoth vs. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. Even recently, Netanyahu has talked about Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes as if he were talking about the threat from Iran."
Two weekends ago, Channel 1's Ayala Hasson reported that Avi Benayahu, who was IDF spokesperson under Ashkenazi, would be questioned over his alleged breach of trust surrounding the Harpaz affair. He is suspected, according to Hasson, of allegedly "trying to use the media against the political echelons using improper means."
There is a debate to be had, on the sidelines, on whether those in active duty can lawfully use such tactics against the political echelon. According to Hasson, Ashkenazi's office was constantly in touch with reporters, in stark contrast to the chief of staff's supposed media aversion.
This is not the first time Yedioth has airbrushed unpleasant news -- just look at its coverage of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's corruption trials. But now, with the Ashkenazi investigation getting underway, one must ask, should Yedioth Ahronoth be worried-
טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו