During a closed session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held today (Tuesday) in the Knesset, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari once again apologized for his statement against the law being promoted by the coalition in the classified documents affair—the “Feldstein Law.”
“I Made a Mistake, I Overstepped My Authority”
At the start of the discussion, the IDF Spokesperson said:
“I apologize for the remarks I made regarding the law. You are the sovereign. I responded to a journalist’s question; I should not have responded. The Chief of Staff reprimanded me, and rightly so.”
He also noted his love for the country and the IDF, adding:
“I want to begin by addressing my statement about the law, in the context of a question I was asked at the end of the briefing: I made a mistake, I overstepped my authority, I understood that—I took responsibility. The IDF must and should convey its position on legislation related to the IDF, such as the conscription law, through legitimate channels like this forum.”
The Statement Against the Law and the Apology
As recalled, about three weeks ago, during a media briefing, Brig. Gen. Hagari was asked about the IDF’s position on the Feldstein Law, and he replied:
“Regarding the law—this law is very dangerous for the IDF. It is dangerous because it creates a situation where any low-ranking officer in the IDF could decide on their own to steal and disclose documents from the IDF or intelligence information. This is straightforward—it will lead to a situation where there is a danger to human lives and the lives of soldiers. Therefore, it is very dangerous for the IDF and also dangerous for the security of the state.”
Shortly after Hagari’s extraordinary statement against the new law, a clarification was published that same evening, stating that the Chief of Staff had reprimanded him for overstepping his authority.
“The Chief of Staff reprimanded the IDF Spokesperson for his response to a question on the law regarding the transfer of classified information to the Prime Minister and ministers during a press briefing, and in doing so, he overstepped his authority,” the statement said.
It further stated:
“The IDF does not criticize the legislative authority but presents its position to the political echelon through the accepted mechanisms for this purpose.”
