An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to have leaked classified information to foreign media in an attempt to sway public opinion regarding hostage negotiations, as revealed in a court statement published on Sunday.
Eliezer Feldstein was arrested earlier this month for purportedly leaking “classified and sensitive intelligence information.” Recent court filings from the magistrate’s court of Rishon Lezion provide additional details regarding the alleged leak.
According to the court, the incident began when a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the Israeli military reserves obtained a “highly sensitive and classified document” from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In April, the NCO forwarded a copy of this document to Feldstein, who subsequently disseminated it to Israeli media in September, aiming to influence public sentiment surrounding ongoing hostage negotiations.
This action followed the Israeli military’s announcement on September 1, which revealed that six Israeli hostages were killed in Gaza, four of whom were slated for release in a potential deal.
Due to censorship regulations, Israeli media were barred from publishing articles concerning the leaked document. Consequently, Feldstein opted to share the document with foreign outlets. In September, two articles—one in the Jewish Chronicle from the UK and another in Germany’s Bild—contained details from the leak, both citing Israeli intelligence sources and aligning with the narrative promoted by Netanyahu at the time.
Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, who resigned from Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet earlier this year, criticized the alleged leaks, suggesting they represent a significant failure at the highest levels of government. Gantz described the situation as a “national crime” and accused Netanyahu’s office of exploiting the leaks for political advantage.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) previously denied that any leaks originated from Netanyahu’s office and stated that the “individual in question never participated in security-related discussions,” apparently referring to Feldstein. The PMO also dismissed claims that the leak affected negotiations with Hamas regarding the release of hostages, labeling the assertion as “ridiculous.”
CNN has reached out to Feldstein’s attorney for further comment.
Credit: CNN
