In recent weeks, three interrelated cases have surfaced, each concerning the conduct of the Prime Minister’s Office in relation to military sources, classified information, and the media since the onset of the war. While fundamentally similar, each case points to misconduct within the PMO environment surrounding Prime Minister Netanyahu — though the PM himself is not suspected of direct involvement in any of the cases. Here, we aim to clarify these cases, which are easy to confuse:
The First Case involves a publication in the German newspaper Bild about two months ago, containing content related to directives from Sinwar concerning strategies for protests in Israel demanding the release of hostages. The IDF claims this information was highly classified, and its release endangers efforts to free hostages. An investigation into the source of the leak was launched, leading to the arrest of Eli Feldstein (a reserve officer and advisor to the PM on military matters) and three officers from the IDF’s Information Security Division. The suspicion is that the officers unlawfully leaked the content to Feldstein, who subsequently pushed for its publication in foreign media in a way that might serve the PM’s political goals.
The Second Case concerns attempts by individuals close to the PM to alter protocols and summaries of meetings and conversations held at the onset of the war. The investigation began after Major General Avi Gil, then the PM’s military secretary, raised the issue with the Attorney General. The suspicion is that certain figures sought to amend the protocols to present the PM and his associates in a more favorable light, either for the media or historical record.
The Third Case involves alleged pressure placed on a senior IDF officer through blackmail and the holding of sensitive information about him. This case came to light after the officer reported the issue to IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. On Sunday, it was disclosed that the suspect in the blackmail case is Tzachi Braverman, the PM’s Chief of Staff. The suspicion is that the alleged actions aimed to obtain classified information accessible to the officer in question.
All three cases highlight severe issues in handling classified information, with potential national security implications and suspicions of personal interest misuse. It is hoped that the police will thoroughly investigate and draw clear conclusions on culpability and punishment, while deterring similar attempts in the future. Furthermore, we hope these cases do not destabilize the PM’s inner circle, echoing the reverberations of Nixon’s Watergate scandal nearly 50 years ago.
There are voices that say that these investigations are falsified or exaggerated and are being done with the goal of destabilizing the Netanyahu coalition.
