Sportscaster Arbel suspended for Kamm tribute

Channel 10 commentator Yoram Arbel was suspended Sunday after dedicating night’s broadcast of Israel’s Euro 2012 qualifying match to Anat Kamm.

By ALLON SINAI
Channel 10 commentator Yoram Arbel was suspended on Sunday for 48 hours after dedicating Saturday night’s broadcast of Israel’s Euro 2012 qualifying match against Latvia to Anat Kamm, who is awaiting her punishment for possession and distribution of secret information.
Arbel, one of the country’s most renowned sportscasters, said ahead of Saturday’s kickoff: “there is a girl at home who made a huge mistake and has since been under house arrest. She loves soccer and we will try to dedicate some of this broadcast to her.”
A few minutes later, Arbel apologized for his earlier remark and said that he does not justify Kamm’s behavior.
However, channel 10 still decided to suspended Arbel for 48 hours, which will not prevent him from working Tuesday night’s game between Israel and Georgia at Bloomfield Stadium.
Former soldier Kamm was convicted in February of possession and distribution of secret information by the Tel Aviv District Court after pleading guilty to the offenses as part of a plea bargain.
In exchange for the guilty plea, the state agreed to drop the charges in which she was accused of endangering national security.
She was originally charged with espionage with intent to harm national security, having leaked classified information to Ha’aretz reporter Uri Blau in 2008.