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Human Rights Alert (NGO)

Joseph Zernik, PhD "PO Box 31440, Jerusalem 91313, Israel;jz12345@earthlink.net ;91313 "31440,

10-07-29 Amendment to the Electronic Signature Act(2001) - compilation of media reports.

ComSign was established as sole Certifying Authority of the State of Israel through conduct of AttorneysYoram HaCohen and Amit Ashkenazi, falsely appearing and acting on behalf of the office of Registrar ofCertifying Authorities, pursuant to the Electronic Signature Act (2001). One qualification, shared by thefounding CEO Zeev Shetach, and his successor Gil Yitzhaq both are veterans of the Unit 8200 of IsraeliIntelligence.

Attached:

# Record Page#

1 07-03-06 Zeev Shetach - Nationalization of the certification of electronic signatures is absurd_TheMarker

2

2 08-05-29 Portfolio - Zeev Shetach _ Globes 43 10-07-29 The Knesset passed an Amendment to the Electronic Signature Act (2001) _ People and

Computers7

4 11-12-03 Gil Itzhaki will replace Zeev Shetach as ComSign CEO 9

Digitally signed

by Joseph Zernik

DN: cn=Joseph

Zernik, o, ou,

email=jz12345@e

arthlink.net, c=US

Date: 2012.07.11

00:55:50 +03'00'

mailto:jz12345@earthlink.netmailto:jz12345@earthlink.net

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07-03-06 Zeev Shetach -Nationalization of thecertification of electronicsignatures is absurd

_TheMarker

Comsign CEO claims that

establishment of a government

certifying authority for electronic

sigantures violates government

commitments.

The government's decision to reverse the

use of private agencies as certifying

authorities continues to make waves.

Reminder: The use of internet enables the

government of Israel to verify the identity

of parties electronically, in order to

conduct transactions online. In 2001 the

Knesset passed the Electronic Signature

Act, and the State assigned two private

technology agencies as Certifying

Authorities for electronic signatures (akin

to electronic notaries): SecureNet andComSign. Thousands of professionals,

attorneys, stock brokers, and others are

already using ComSign and SecureNet

Services.

About weeks ago, TheMarker published

an announcement that SecureNet ceased

its operations for lack for profitability, and

in parallel it was published that the State

was considering taking back the Cerifying

Authority for electronic signatures. The

Ministry of Justice announced two weeks

ago that a draft bill was submitted forestablishing a governmental Certifying

Authority.

TheMarker obtained a copy of a letter

sent by Zeev Shetach, ComSign CEO, to

the general comptroller Yaron Zalicha.

According to Shetach, ComSign, which

remained as the sole Certifying Authority

in Israel, will not agree to continue acting

as a Certifying Authority, if the Ministry of

Justice will establish a governmental

Certifying Authority. "The planned

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conduct will harm us and cause our

closure...," write Shetach. He further

claims that the proposed bill contradicts

specific promise by the Ministry of

Treasury and the Ministry of Justice to

he Knesset at the time of passage of the

original bill in 2001.

..

The Comproller General offered in

esponse: "Regarding the subject of

establishing a governmental Certifying

Authority, the General Comptroller acts

pursuant to professional guidelines by

he Ministry of Justice. Attorney Yoram

HaCohen, in charge of the Legal

Department for Data Security in the

Minsitry of Justice, and Attorney Amit

Ashkenazi, Registrar of Certifying

Authorities in the Ministry of Justice, are

he authority in charge of Certifying

Authorities in the Ministry of Justice."

NOTE: At the time of publication of this

eport, Attorney Amit Ashkenazi wasNOT authorized as "Registrar of

Certifying Authorities" - jz]

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08-05-29 Portfolio - Zeev Shetach _ GlobersAge: 53, Position: CEO of ComDa data security corporation

Excerpts:

"After I completed my studies[engineering] I was assigned toIntelligence Unit 8200."

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ata Security: became popular in the early990s, and we started integrating into theeld...

lectronic Signatures: When electronic signatures

were introduced into use, I was called to the

Ministry of Justice and asked to provide

xplanations, for two years I advised in the

rocess of legislation, until the Act was passed.

The Electronic Signature Act (2001) - JZ]

omSign: We formed contacts with Verisign, a

ompany that secures internet sites, and we started

roviding through it electronic signature services

n compliance with the law. The first project was

n the Stock Exchange, [Tel Aviv-jz] we hope to

o for an IPO.

Nationalization: All of a sudden some people in

overnment came up and pushed for exclusivity

n electronic signatures. That will not pass.

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10-07-29 The Knesset passed an Amendment to theElectronic Signature Act (2001) _ People and Computers

The amendment addresses the certification authority for electronic

signatures between the State and private providers. The State willbecome a Certifying Authority in addition to private providers, but will

not compete with them. Zeev Shetach, ComSign CEO, who foughtagainst the original Act, "The Amendment is the least of all evils, as faras we are concerned. We managed to scuttle the intent of the Ministry

of Justice to intervene in a blatant manner in our business activity, andin free market competition." Member of Knesset Shitrit, who was

among the brokers of the compromise, says: "The Amendmentaddresses changes in the market, and balances the interests of the

State and the private sector."

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1-12-04 Gil Itzhak will replace Zeev Shetach as ComSign CEO _ TheMarker

ntil recently, ComSign was the only company that was authorized to certify electronic signatures to corporations androfessionals.

l Yitzhaq (49) was appointed CEO of ComSign, replacing Zeev Shetach. Yitzhaq is a veteran of the 8200 Unit of the Israelitelligence, and holds a degree in Computer Science from Newport University in the United States...

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