StolenWindows
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In 1990, the Israeli government successfully obtained temporary court orders in both Canada (Ontario) and the United States (New York) to block the release of By Way of Deception, a tell-all memoir written by former Mossad case officer Victor Ostrovsky and co-author Claire Hoy.
The Details of the Ban and Aftermath
The New York Ban: On September 12, 1990, a New York Supreme Court judge temporarily barred publication in the U.S. at the request of the Israeli government. Israel argued that Ostrovsky violated his non-disclosure contract and that the book endangered the lives of active intelligence agents.The Ban Overturned: The U.S. injunction was short-lived. Just one day later, on September 13, 1990, an appeals court threw out the ban. The court ruled that the Israeli government failed to substantiate the safety threats, and noted that banning the book was futile because thousands of copies had already been distributed to bookstores.The Canadian Ban: Canada’s Ontario court also placed a temporary injunction on the book. However, following the overturning of the U.S. ban, Israel dropped its lawsuit in Canada, rendering any further attempts to suppress the book moot. Why the Book Was Controversial: the memoir generated intense backlash—and massive public interest—because it exposed the inner workings of the Mossad. The most explosive allegation was that the Mossad intercepted specific intelligence regarding the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing (which killed 241 U.S. Marines) but gave American forces only a vague, general warning. Ultimately, the heavy legal scrutiny and attempted bans acted as a "Streisand effect," catapulting By Way of Deception to the top of the New York Times best-seller list.
The Details of the Ban and Aftermath
The New York Ban: On September 12, 1990, a New York Supreme Court judge temporarily barred publication in the U.S. at the request of the Israeli government. Israel argued that Ostrovsky violated his non-disclosure contract and that the book endangered the lives of active intelligence agents.The Ban Overturned: The U.S. injunction was short-lived. Just one day later, on September 13, 1990, an appeals court threw out the ban. The court ruled that the Israeli government failed to substantiate the safety threats, and noted that banning the book was futile because thousands of copies had already been distributed to bookstores.The Canadian Ban: Canada’s Ontario court also placed a temporary injunction on the book. However, following the overturning of the U.S. ban, Israel dropped its lawsuit in Canada, rendering any further attempts to suppress the book moot. Why the Book Was Controversial: the memoir generated intense backlash—and massive public interest—because it exposed the inner workings of the Mossad. The most explosive allegation was that the Mossad intercepted specific intelligence regarding the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing (which killed 241 U.S. Marines) but gave American forces only a vague, general warning. Ultimately, the heavy legal scrutiny and attempted bans acted as a "Streisand effect," catapulting By Way of Deception to the top of the New York Times best-seller list.
