Israeli journalist reaches plea bargain with state

JERUSALEM – The Haaretz daily says a reporter facing indictment for publishing classified documents relayed by a military whistleblower has reached a plea bargain with the government that will keep him out of jail.

In May, the attorney general's office announced it would charge Uri Blau with unauthorized possession of state secrets. Blau would have faced up to seven years in jail if convicted, but under the plea deal, he will perform four months community service.

Under the deal, Blau will admit to holding secret intelligence, without intent to harm national security.

Blau's reports were based on hundreds of documents he got from Anat Kamm, who copied them during her military service. Kamm was sentenced in 2011 to four years.