Israel arrests American journalist who exposed sites hit by Iranian missiles

Israeli police have arrested an American journalist on suspicion of "endangering national security after reporting on the locations of missiles that fell in the Iranian attack earlier this month, including at the Israeli army's Nevatim air base and an intelligence base in central Israel." According to the Hebrew website Yedioth Ahronoth, "the police arrested Jeremy Loffredo (28 years old), an independent American journalist," and he faces an Israeli court in occupied Jerusalem after reporting Iranian missiles that struck several Israeli air bases. The website stated that Loffredo said in his report: 'The attacks on Gaza were launched from the Nevatim base, and he said that the government's private plane used by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was located there.' He also said: "The charges against him include aiding the enemy during war and providing information to him, noting that "the United States fears a possible diplomatic incident following the reporter's actions." The Hebrew website indicated that the journalist's arrest raised fears of a possible diplomatic incident between Israel and the United States due to his status as a foreign journalist. Representatives from the US embassy arrived at the so-called Magistrate's Court in occupied Jerusalem to attend a hearing at the police's request to extend his detention. The website quoted attorney Lea Tsemel, who represents the journalist, as saying: 'He published the information openly and completely, without trying to hide anything. If this information constitutes assistance to the enemy, many other journalists in Israel, including Israeli correspondents, should be arrested.' "A spy would not have acted in such a public and transparent manner," she added. Israel imposes strict military censorship on coverage of the war, including identifying missile landing sites, launch sites, and troop movements on the ground, along the border, and inside Gaza and Lebanon. Source: Maan News Agency