(Israel Government Press Office)

Four newspapers comment on various aspects of the so-called "Prisoner X" affair:

Ma'ariv says that the original Australian Broadcasting Corporation expose presented a very dark and sinister portrayal of an anonymous person being held in isolation, without trial, without representation, "the Count of Monte Cristo of the State of Israel." The author says: "What did the State of Israel do? It was silent, it censored, it convened the editors committee, it issued gag orders and then lifted them. Only last night did sense take hold of the security establishment, which issued a statement" to the effect that the prisoner's family had been notified, that he had legal representation and that he had been held pursuant to an arrest warrant that had been issued against him. The paper also notes that social media and the Internet effectively bypassed the censorship.

Yediot Aharonot notes that there are many questions regarding the affair and asserts: "Whoever wants to reassure the Israeli public must act to create an independent state commission of inquiry."

Yisrael Hayom suggests: "In the current technological age it is hard to guard information, and the very attempt to hide it is liable to increase the damage. Simply put, there is no chance that what didn't work 30 years ago with Mordechai Vanunu, 20 years ago with Victor Ostrovsky would work in 2013 with Ben Zygier- Alon."

Haaretz is outraged by the violation of civil rights, and asserts: “Israel can't just 'disappear' people.” The editor declares that “The state's secrets should indeed be kept rigorously, but it cannot justify such a grave infringement on the civil rights of people who are confined in prison under false identities and with no public supervision,” and states: “This kind of prolonged suppression prevents an investigation into the failures in handling these cases and punishing those responsible.”

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The Jerusalem Post believes that “The latest North Korean nuke test undoubtedly constituted a major morale-booster for Iran,” and, noting the similarities between the two rogue states, adds: “It is as if the North Korean and the Iranian sagas were played out in separate, unconnected bubbles. It is as if the world’s democracies deliberately don blinders.” The editor asserts that “Pyongyang had hoodwinked Washington, and Iran learned that it is possible to get away with the most outrageous deceit,” and warns: “The Korean genie can no longer be pushed back into the bottle, but the Iranian genie has not yet fully sprung out.”