An Israeli news report has revealed that Eliezer Feldstein, a former spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is suspected of leaking confidential documents without authorization. Feldstein, who was previously discharged from military reserve duty during the early stages of the Gaza conflict, is now under investigation alongside three others, including members of Israel’s security forces.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Feldstein was appointed as Netanyahu’s spokesperson for military and security affairs just after the October 7 attack. The position was newly created for the current situation, and Feldstein was initially assigned to Israel’s National Emergency Command Center under the Ministry of Defense. However, for three days in mid-October, he worked from Netanyahu’s office rather than reporting to the Command Center, leading the Defense Ministry to terminate his reserve service.
Details of the Crisis
- Court Proceedings: An Israeli court announced Sunday that Feldstein was detained on suspicion of leaking classified documents to the media, which may have disrupted negotiations to free hostages held in Gaza. Feldstein was detained in Rishon LeZion along with three others, including individuals from Israel’s security agencies.
- Opposition Response: The opposition has questioned whether Netanyahu may have had knowledge of or involvement in the leaks, a claim his office has denied. Some opposition members accuse Netanyahu of delaying ceasefire negotiations to satisfy far-right allies in his coalition.
- Ongoing Investigations: Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, and the military launched an investigation into the leaks after sensitive documents were published by The Jewish Chronicle in London and Bild in Germany. One report suggested a plot to smuggle Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was later killed by Israel, along with hostages out of Gaza to Egypt. The second report, based on an alleged internal Hamas memo, outlined Sinwar’s strategy to stall negotiations for hostage release.
The first document was later found to be forged, while the Hamas memo was reportedly written by lower-level activists unaffiliated with leadership positions.
The Israeli court has stated that publishing these documents could cause “severe harm to state security,” potentially impacting Israel’s ability to safely negotiate hostage releases amid the ongoing conflict.
Political Reactions
Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that this serious security issue within Netanyahu’s office “should concern every Israeli.” He called for an investigation to determine if the leaks were indeed authorized. Lapid claims that Netanyahu’s aides might have leaked or fabricated sensitive documents to delay negotiations and launch a media campaign against the families of hostages. Another opposition figure, Benny Gantz, criticized the case as “not merely a suspected leak, but the misuse of state secrets for political purposes.”
In response, Netanyahu has refuted the accusations, claiming that Bild’s document “never reached” his office and that Feldstein “was never involved in security meetings or given access to classified documents.”
