Israel lawmakers to meet over anonymous prisoner

Jerusalem: An Israeli lawmaker says a special meeting will be held to discuss reports of a person secretly jailed at a top-security prison.

Miri Regev, chairwoman of parliament’s internal affairs committee, said the meeting will convene later Tuesday.

Israel’s military censor earlier lifted a ban on reporting the prisoner’s existence. No other details were released.

The case resembles that of Ben Zygier, an Australian-Israeli who worked for Israel’s spy agency and was later jailed secretly on suspicions of security crimes. He committed suicide in 2010, but the case only became public this year.

The Haaretz newspaper reported the newly discovered inmate was held at the same time as Zygier.

Israeli officials say that while Zygier’s case was kept from the public, he had legal representation and maintained contact with his family.

AP