In the wake of yesterday's article in Yated Neeman about the speculation that Hofesh activists who have been distributing the heretical Derech Emet [sic] pamphlet have been using databases, dozens of readers who have received the destructive pamphlet contacted the editors yesterday.
From research undertaken yesterday following dozens of faxes to the editors, it is clear that Hofesh activists are using a computerized disc from Bezeq, and after the names of those targeted to receive the letters are downloaded from the database and stored in the organization's computers, the activists sort by the recipients' zip codes.
Thus, for example, a store owner in Bnei Brak told us yesterday that the previous owner of the store has not lived in Bnei Brak for twenty years, and last year his name was removed from the Bezeq phone book. Despite this, a letter bearing the name of the previous store owner, as it appears in the Bezeq database, was received.
From most of the calls to the editors, it can be seen that activists have accessed details about the recipients -- be it in Jersualem, Bnei Brak, or elsewhere in the country -- through the Bezeq computer disc database. The company explains that there is no legal hindrance to using the information in this database, since it is freely distributed to the general public, particularly for the distribution of publicity materials and the like to Bezeq customers' addresses.
From: Yated Neeman March 10, 1999 22 Adar 5760