“Government Secrecy: A Hidden 4% of Classified Items”
An examination of the materials from the sessions of the 44th Government, spanning from the start of its term (October 31, 2023) until January 1, 2025, indicates that out of the 2,973 agenda items discussed, 118—approximately four percent—were designated with a level of secrecy, preventing even the disclosure of their titles or the nature of the materials deliberated and decided upon. This was reported today by the non-governmental organization (NGO), Institute Alternative (IA).
According to their announcement, the topics discussed confidentially involve matters related to personnel, budget management, contract information, current affairs, and other similar issues.
“Thus, it is unclear how revealing the titles of these agenda items could lead to ‘serious harmful consequences for the security and interests of the state, or adverse effects on the functioning of the body,’ which are the conditions for designating information as ‘internal’ or ‘secret,'” stated the IA.
The IA noted that both prior to and following 2020, administrations have declined their proposal to revise the Decision on the Publication of Materials from Government Sessions in a manner that would obligate the full disclosure of agenda items and minutes from sessions held by the Government and its committees.
“The preceding 43rd Government established an informal practice at the end of its term to publish the titles of items classified with a level of secrecy; however, this was abandoned by the current Government without any changes to the formal regulations,” the statement elaborated.
The IA further mentioned that certain documents are categorized as “internal” and others as “secret,” indicating that their classified status expires in two and fifteen years, respectively.
“It remains unclear whether the legal obligation to establish a commission tasked with periodically reviewing the level of data secrecy, as well as modifying, extending, or abolishing it, has been met. This is crucial for both the materials categorized as secret by this Government and those from prior administrations,” the Institute Alternative noted in its statement.
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