Netanyahu's former aide charged in major security leak
The former press spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing serious charges related to sharing classified military documents with the media, as confirmed by an Israeli court on Sunday. This action could have negatively impacted negotiations for the exchange of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli security agency reported the arrest of four individuals, including Netanyahu's former associate, Eliezer Feldstein, who is currently in custody in Rishon LeZion.
The investigation commenced following the publication of articles by the German "Bild" and the British "Jewish Chronicle" in August and September, which unveiled intelligence documents. These documents indicated Hamas's plans to polarise Israeli society through propaganda concerning hostages abducted from Israel.
Information about the suspects' arrests was disclosed on Friday when an Israeli court lifted a partial publication ban on the leak case. Judge Menachem Mizrahi determined that the leak posed a threat to "sensitive intelligence data" and contributed to impeding Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, reports the Times of Israel. Netanyahu himself also called for the disclosure of information related to the proceedings.
Netanyahu under fire
Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that if Netanyahu knew, he is jointly responsible for one of the greatest security breaches in history. If he didn't know, "then what does he know at all?"
Prime Minister Netanyahu denied the allegations on Friday, claiming that the documents never reached his desk. Without naming Feldstein, Netanyahu emphasized that the former associate "never participated in security meetings where classified documents were discussed."
The leak case came to light amidst numerous protests on Israeli streets, with demands for a ceasefire to secure the hostages' release, mentioned the FT. The British daily also noted that Bild, one of Germany's most popular tabloids, demonstrated a friendly approach towards Netanyahu, and the "Jewish Chronicle" ultimately removed articles based on the leak following controversies about their author.
Israel launched operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the terrorist organization's attack on 7 October. It was the largest terrorist attack in the country's history, with approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 abducted; about one hundred hostages remain held in the Gaza Strip.
