Netanyahu's Office Faces Scandal Over Alleged Intelligence Leak Amid Hostage Negotiations

 

A significant scandal has emerged surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an alleged intelligence leak from his office. The controversy intensified after a court in Rishon LeZion partially lifted a gag order on the case, indicating that the leak may have negatively impacted ongoing efforts to secure a hostage deal during the Gaza conflict.

Four individuals have been arrested in connection with a joint investigation involving police, internal security services, and the military. Central to the inquiry is Eliezer Feldstein, reportedly hired as a spokesperson and media adviser in Netanyahu's office after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The other three arrested individuals are linked to the security establishment.

While a partial gag order remains, the court stated that the case revolves around a "breach of national security caused by the unlawful provision of classified information" that "harmed the achievement of Israel’s war aims." The suspects are accused of leaking Hamas strategy documents obtained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza and of altering these documents to portray the militant group's leadership as deliberately prolonging negotiations and attempting to smuggle hostages into Egypt.

The allegations gained traction after reports based on the altered documents appeared in the British newspaper the Jewish Chronicle and the German tabloid Bild in September. These reports prompted an IDF investigation, leading to the Jewish Chronicle retracting the story and terminating the journalist involved.

Critics of Netanyahu claim the articles surfaced amid renewed scrutiny of his handling of negotiations, especially after the discovery of six hostages deceased in a tunnel in Rafah. The reports reportedly reinforced Netanyahu's insistence that Israeli troops maintain a presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, a demand that Hamas rejected, leading to a stalemate in negotiations.

Netanyahu has been accused of delaying a deal to satisfy his far-right coalition partners, who oppose any concessions to Hamas. Observers note that he may view remaining in office as his best defense against longstanding corruption charges, which he denies.

The Hostage Families Forum, representing the families of the abducted individuals, has called for an investigation into those suspected of undermining state security, labeling the situation a "moral low point" and a significant blow to public trust in the government.

In response to the allegations, Netanyahu has attempted to downplay the situation, requesting the gag order's removal and asserting that he had no involvement in the leak. His office contends that Feldstein was not part of security discussions and did not have access to classified information. Questions have arisen regarding Feldstein's formal employment status in the prime minister's office, particularly after reports indicated he failed a security clearance polygraph test, despite having been photographed with Netanyahu multiple times.

Feldstein, a 32-year-old from the ultra-Orthodox suburb of Bnei Brak in Tel Aviv, previously worked for far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and served in the IDF’s media unit. He was arrested on October 27 and remains in custody pending his next hearing on Tuesday. The charges against him and the other suspects, including leaking classified information and negligence in handling sensitive material, could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, according to reports.